PHAGWARA: A fatal road accident was reported late night on the Phagwara bypass near Mehta Chowk Phagwara , resulting in the death of one person and injuries to another.
According to the police complaint filed by Deepak Sharma, resident of Pathankot, the complainant was travelling from Chandigarh to Pathankot in a car bearing registration number PB-35-AN-6400 along with Surinder Singh, Sameer Sharda (who was driving), and Pankaj Kumar, aged 32, resident of Pathankot.
The complainant stated that due to heavy fog, the group was driving cautiously on their correct side. As they reached the Phagwara a vehicle ahead suddenly applied brakes, causing their car to sustain damage to the conductor side. While they stopped near the divider to assess the damage, a speeding truck approached from behind. Allegedly, the truck driver neither blew the horn nor reduced speed and, instead of turning left at the crossing, climbed onto the right-side divider and rammed into their stationary car from behind.
The impact caused the truck to lose control and overturn near the flyover crossing. Pankaj Kumar, who was standing near the car, was crushed beneath the truck and died on the spot. Sameer Sharda sustained injuries in the incident.
With the help of the police, Pankaj Kumar’s body was retrieved from beneath the truck and later shifted to the Civil Hospital, Phagwara, where it was kept in the mortuary. The truck involved in the accident was identified as bearing registration number PB-32-P-5463. The driver, however, fled the scene after the accident.