Overview:
A series of serious traffic accidents over the past week — including two fatalities and multiple injuries — has raised fresh concerns about road safety in Palau. Authorities say most of the major incidents occurred during peak morning hours and are urging drivers to slow down, follow traffic laws and stay alert to protect lives on the road.
By: L.N. Reklai
Koror, Palau (Feb. 10, 2026) — A series of serious motor vehicle accidents over the past week has raised renewed concerns about road safety, particularly during peak traffic hours, as authorities urge drivers to follow traffic laws and remain vigilant.
The incidents, which occurred on separate days and involved different causes, resulted in two deaths, multiple injuries and several citations for traffic violations, according to the Bureau of Public Safety.
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, at about 8 a.m., a vehicle attempting to overtake two cars on the Koror-Babeldaob Bridge toward the Airai side swerved to avoid a collision when the vehicle ahead also moved out to pass. The driver lost control and struck the guardrail near the Airai entrance, then bounced back across the roadway and hit the opposite rail. Despite the impact across both lanes, no serious injuries were reported. Chief Fabian Ngiramengior of the Patrol Division said the two drivers who attempted to overtake were cited for illegal overtaking and reckless driving.
A more serious accident occurred Friday, Feb. 6, at about 8 a.m., near the Meyuns Causeway across from the former Akiwo Gas station. A vehicle traveling toward the causeway struck four road construction workers who were installing drainage. Authorities said the driver, a nurse from Belau National Hospital with a history of seizures, experienced a seizure and lost control of the vehicle. Two Bangladeshi nationals were killed. A Filipino national and another Bangladeshi worker were critically injured and transported to the hospital. As of press time, no update on their condition was available.
On Saturday evening, Feb. 7, a red Honda CR-V traveling from Koror toward Airai crossed into the oncoming lane and collided with a white sedan driven by a Bangladeshi national. Police identified the CR-V driver as Palauan Silas Kintaro. The CR-V caught fire shortly after the crash. Both drivers sustained injuries that authorities said were not serious.
Early Sunday morning at about 7:58 a.m., the driver transporting U.S. Ambassador Joel Ehrendreich swerved to avoid dogs and children near a bus stop in Ngetkib and struck a roadside barricade. The ambassador was taken to the hospital, though the extent of his injuries was not disclosed.
Chief Ngiramengior said the four incidents were among the major accidents reported during the week and that several other minor crashes also occurred.
While the accidents were unrelated in cause, three of the four major incidents took place during early morning hours, when traffic volume is highest.
Authorities emphasized that road safety is especially critical during peak periods in the morning and afternoon, when schoolchildren, pedestrians and commuters share busy roadways. Officials are urging motorists to obey traffic rules, avoid risky maneuvers such as illegal overtaking, and drive defensively to prevent further tragedies.