Devastating car accident on the Khujand–Mastchoh highway has claimed the lives of seven people, including five members of the same family from the city of Istiqlol and two brothers from Uzbekistan, the Tajik Interior Ministry’s website says.  

The fatal crash occurred on June 28 along the Dushanbe–Khujand–Chanak highway in the Dadaboy Kholmatov rural community.  Authorities reported that minors were among the deceased.

According to the police, the incident involved a Volkswagen driven by a citizen of Uzbekistan that collided with a Toyota operated by a resident of the Mastchoh district.  The impact sent the Volkswagen off the road, where it struck a third vehicle — a Mercedes driven by a Khujand resident.

Seven passengers died at the scene, while three others were injured.  The injured include the Uzbek driver of the Volkswagen and two Mastchoh residents, one of them a minor.  All were hospitalized, though their current conditions remain unknown.

Videos of the crash circulated rapidly on social media, revealing the severity of the incident and the extent of the casualties.

This marks the second major road tragedy in the Tajik northern province of Sughd this month.  Several weeks ago, a crash in the Jabbor-Rasoulov district killed six people; the driver responsible was detained.

According to official statistics, Tajikistan recorded 1,233 traffic accidents in 2024, resulting in 552 deaths and 1,353 injuries.  Authorities cite speeding, improper overtaking, unsafe lane changes, lack of distance between vehicles, and cellphone use while driving as the main causes.