Minivan and Freight Truck Collision Causes Chaos on Salang Pass

Parwan, Afghanistan—A passenger minivan collided head-on with a heavy freight truck along a high-altitude stretch of the Salang Pass early Thursday morning, causing heavy casualties and shutting down Afghanistan’s primary north-south highway link. The crash occurred around 7:00 a.m. local time near the southern approach to the main Salang tunnel, where icy road surfaces and low visibility severely restricted driver reaction times.

The collision destroyed the forward compartment of the passenger minivan, wedging the light transport vehicle beneath the bumper of the loaded commercial truck. Mountain rescue teams and passing motorists used hydraulic jacks, chains, and iron bars to cut through crushed metal and free passengers trapped in the rear seats.

"The minivan was attempting to pass a line of slow-moving cargo haulers on an icy bend when the freight truck came downhill out of the fog," said local transport driver Mohammad Naim, who arrived at the scene shortly after the impact. "The crash shook the ground, and both vehicles slid into the rock wall, completely blocking the roadway."

Emergency medical teams dispatched from provincial centers transported casualties down the winding mountain road to Parwan Civil Hospital and emergency medical facilities in Kabul. Medical directors confirmed that trauma units were mobilized to handle severe crushing injuries, head trauma, and internal fractures.

Salang Pass maintenance authorities closed both entrances to the mountain highway, stranding hundreds of commercial trucks, passenger buses, and private vehicles along icy approach routes on both sides of the Hindu Kush range. The extreme altitude and freezing temperatures complicated medical stabilization and vehicle clearance efforts throughout the morning.

Highway traffic managers highlighted that unpaved lane shoulders, lack of winter tires, and aggressive overtaking remain primary causes of high-fatality crashes along the Salang corridor. Maintenance crews deployed sand-spreading trucks to clear black ice from the asphalt surrounding the crash wreckage.

"Our rescue teams have cleared the surviving passengers from the wreckage and are now working to remove the heavy vehicles," reported Salang Highway Maintenance Director Engineer Abdul Bashir during an afternoon update. "We cannot open the tunnel corridor to traffic until both destroyed vehicles are towed away and the road surface is sanded."

Heavy tow trucks equipped with steel winches remain on site trying to dislodge the crushed minivan from the truck's front axle, while highway police enforce queue lines along the mountain highway.

The Salang Pass is notorious for its treacherous conditions, particularly during winter months when snow and ice create hazardous driving situations. Authorities have repeatedly urged drivers to exercise caution and adhere to safety regulations to prevent such tragic incidents.

As the investigation into the crash continues, officials are expected to review safety protocols and consider measures to enhance road safety in the region, which is vital for transportation and trade in Afghanistan.

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