Speeding lorry rams into car, two dead

A speeding lorry hit a private car on National Highway 34 and claimed the lives of two persons early Sunday morning. Eight persons including the driver were going to Murshidabad’s Hazarduari for picnic. One of them died on the spot.

The local people rescued them from the broken car and they were sent to Malda Medical College and Hospital. The driver of the car succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Police said those persons were coming from South Dinajpur’s Jahangirpur, under the jurisdiction of Gangarampur police station. They hired a private car to reach Murshidabad’s Hazarduari.

“There were eight persons including the driver sitting in the car. The lorry hit the car from behind. Najmul Hossein (27), a nationalised bank employee died on the spot. He was sitting in the back seat,” said a police officer.

“The local residents took the victims to the hospital. But the driver, Rubel Sarkar (26) died after reaching the hospital,” the officer added.

“The other persons, Omar Ali, Liaquat Ali, Ranjan Ghosh, Sushanta Roy, Dulal Chakrabarty, Romen Bar, Asit Saha received injuries. They were admitted to the hospital,” the officer added.

The lorry driver escaped from the spot leaving his vehicle on the road. But his assistant could not escape. The local residents captured him there.

“We detained the assistant of the accused driver. But he was sleeping on the lorry while the accident took place. He is innocent. But we took the whereabouts of accused lorry driver from him,” said the officer.

It should be recalled that a stone loaded truck hit a bicycle on National Highway - 34 at the same location, claimed the life of a 35-year-old person there. The brother of the deceased, who was the pillion rider of the bicycle, had a close shave. The infuriated mob ransacked the truck and later, set the truck on fire. They blocked the National Highway for several hours in morning causing a huge traffic jam in that stretch.