“How many more people have to die?” – Why are truck-related traffic accidents so frequent in Neftchilar village?

“How many more people must die?” – Why are truck accidents so common in Neftchilar village?

A section of Konchilar Street in Neftchilar village, Bulaqbashy district, connects to a mountain pass. Heavy trucks loaded with sand and gravel descend from the pass towards the village at high speeds, and tragic incidents frequently occur as a result of brake failures.

The brake failures of trucks descending from the pass at high speed, the poor quality and narrowness of the road, and the encroachment of retail shops onto the sidewalks have, over the years, caused a continuous series of fatal, tragic traffic accidents.

According to official figures, 3 citizens were killed in a traffic accident that occurred on October 10. However, eyewitnesses report that the number of casualties is nearly 10.

Sanobar Gofurova's youngest son also died after being crushed by a truck:

“I had five sons. The youngest was killed when he was crushed by a truck. He was 34 years old at the time. The deceased had two daughters, and his wife was pregnant when the tragic incident occurred. Due to the trauma, her 8-month pregnancy resulted in a premature, disabled birth. Because of all this distress and stress, I fell ill myself; I developed heart palpitations and chronic high blood pressure. Seeing and hearing about yesterday's events reminded me of my son and made me sick again.

The incident occurred on June 28, 2024. That day, too, a HOWO truck was driving at high speed. Its brakes failed, and it ran over my son.

I appeal to the officials and relevant organizations: please do not allow trucks to pass through our roads. Our road does not meet the requirements for heavy truck traffic. Trucks come down from the pass with heavy loads, end up losing their brakes, and many tragic incidents occur. Many people died in yesterday's accident, and how many more are lying in intensive care. A woman living next door was a teacher. Her husband is disabled, and she was working to support him. That teacher is also in very critical condition, currently in intensive care. The poor woman was working to pay for her husband's medical treatment,” says Sanobarxon aya Gofurova, who lost her son in an accident two years ago.

"I lost two grandchildren in a single day"

“Six years ago, I lost two grandchildren because of trucks. Back then, my older grandchild was 11, and the younger one was 3 years old.

Around 5:00 PM, a truck coming down the pass—whether its brakes failed or the driver fell asleep—struck my two grandchildren and crashed through our courtyard wall. It also destroyed the gas regulation point (GRP). The truck looked like a pile of scrap metal. The driver himself was also killed.

My daughter-in-law developed a habit of going out to the paved street where the accident happened, grieving for her child, and striking the asphalt with a cold chisel and hammer. When I took her to the hospital, the doctors said that if she didn't live in another house, she would inevitably go mad. I agreed and sent her to her sisters (her sister was working in Russia). She comes from Russia to the village every now and then. Even then, she may or may not enter our house.

Trucks and this pass have claimed the lives of so many people. The residents of Neftchilar village know this very well. We ask the relevant organizations to lower the pass or to ban heavy trucks from using this street altogether,” says Abduqodir Nishonov, who lost two grandchildren in a single day.

"I don't know where I will get the money for the metal plate, I am at my wits' end"

In the accident that occurred yesterday, my wife was run over by a HOWO truck. Her leg and ribs are broken in 15 places, and her head and face are severely injured. She is currently in intensive care. When I asked her what happened, she said a truck came down the hill at high speed, and she didn't have time to dodge to the side.

They say 3-4 people died. In reality, I counted 16 people brought from the accident scene to the intensive care unit alone. How many more of them might have died?!

We have only one son, whom we prayed to God for. May his mother recover for his sake. His mother worked as a teacher to support us. She was the sole provider for our family. I am a Group I disabled person. I have a stent in my heart, my kidneys do not function, and I undergo dialysis three times a week. My wife was the one who comforted me in my pain. Now she has met with a tragedy too. She needs a special metal plate installed in her leg. It costs over seven million UZS. Now I am at my wits' end trying to figure out where I will get the money for that metal plate,” says Fathiddin Samiyev, whose wife remains in intensive care.

During the investigation, we visited several households that lost loved ones in the October 10 accident. However, for some reason, they did not wish to speak about the situation.

According to local residents, three years ago, the district governor held a meeting with the residents of Neftchilar village and stated that 83 billion UZS had been allocated to lower the pass. Practical work was even carried out for a day or two in this regard. However, the initiated work was never completed.

"If funds are allocated, we will lower the pass"

“Every year at the beginning of the year, we submit a proposal to the Andijan Regional Road Administration to lower the pass road. Since there is no alternative route, heavy trucks descend from the pass with loads to reach the cement plant.

The roads are narrow, and heavy trucks are actually not allowed to operate on this street. To widen the roads, we would have to relocate residents.

Currently, we are demolishing the roadside shops. Everything comes down to funding. If funds are allocated to lower the pass, we can lower it,” says Beruniy Tojimatov, head of the Bulaqbashy District Highways Administration, in a telephone interview.

Regarding the traffic accident involving the HOWO truck on October 10, the Investigation Department under the Bulaqbashy District Department of Internal Affairs has initiated a criminal case under Part 3 of Article 266 of the Criminal Code (Violation of traffic safety rules or operation of vehicles resulting in human casualties).

Preliminary investigative actions are currently underway.