A total of five people, including a woman and a child, were killed when a sand-laden truck ran over an auto-rickshaw in Rangpur on Tuesday.
Two of the deceased were identified as auto-rickshaw driver Raja Mia and Jannatul Mawa, 5.
The incident took place around 1:30pm at Sareartal in Rangpur's Mahiganj area, Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mostafizur Rahman of Rangpur Mahiganj police station confirmed.
Besides, three more injured passengers were in the incident.
According to witnesses, the driver of the truck was driving while talking on his mobile phone and smoking a cigarette with one hand.
Police said that two auto-rickshaw passengers, including a woman, were killed on the spot and six others were injured when the large freight truck coming from the opposite direction ran over the Pirgachha-bound auto-rickshaw.
Abdus Salam, deputy assistant director of Rangpur Fire Service,said, upon receiving the news, their Fire Service team went to the spot and recovered the bodies of the two killed.
“We also rescued the injured and took them to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for treatment,” he added.
Hospital sources said the condition of two of them was critical. Besides, three more died while undergoing treatment there.
Meanwhile, witness van driver Afshar Ali said the driver of the truck could not control the vehicle due to speeding while talking on the phone.
“Attempts are being made to identify the three other deceased. Although it was possible to seize the truck, the driver and helper fled the scene,” said OC Mostafizur.
