Truck-autorickshaw collision leaves 3 dead in Gazipur

Three people were killed and three others injured when a battery-run autorickshaw carrying them collided head-on with a truck loaded with fish drums in Gazipur's Dhirasram area today (23 September), police said.

The accident occurred around 3:30pm on the Joydebpur-Tongi-Banmala Road.

Two of the deceased were identified as Mohiuddin, 42, son of Abul Kashem of Hyderabad area in Gazipur, and Jamal Hossain, 44, son of Abdul Malek of the same area. The third victim, an unidentified man estimated to be around 60, could not be identified immediately.

All six casualties were passengers of the autorickshaw, according to police.

According to locals, the autorickshaw was travelling from Tongi towards Joydebpur when it collided head-on with a speeding truck coming from the opposite direction. Two people died on the spot, while another died after being taken to hospital.

Locals rushed to the scene and helped rescue the victims. The three injured passengers were taken to Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital. One of them was in critical condition and was receiving intensive treatment.

Aminul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gazipur Sadar Police Station, said the passenger autorickshaw was travelling on the wrong side of the road when it collided head-on with the truck, which was carrying fish drums.

"The collision left the autorickshaw mangled. Police seized the two vehicles and arrested the truck driver, identified as Shahid Ali, son of Shahadal of Barishal's Airport Police Station area," he told The Business Standard.

Police are investigating whether the truck driver was negligent and are taking legal action in connection with the accident, he added.

The bodies were kept in the hospital morgue, the OC added.