3 killed, 6 hurt as pick-up van collides with tractor

Three persons were killed and six others were injured seriously when a pick-up vehicle they were travelling in collided with a tractor-trailer loaded with iron rods on the Sampla road near Sonepat bypass on Sunday morning.

The deceased were identified as Kranti Devi (50), Mukhtiyari Devi (40) and Kanak (13) of Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh (UP) while the injured were admitted to the PGIMS, Rohtak, where the condition of some of them is stated to be critical.

Overspeeding is stated to be the reason behind the mishap. The police have started an investigation after filing a case against the van driver, Safeek Mohammad of UP.

The mishap took place at around 6 am when the pick-up vehicle carrying over 17 people was on its way to MP Majra village here from Sambhal. The vehicle overturned after colliding with the tractor-trailer leaving three persons dead on the spot.

The police reached the spot and took the injured to the civil hospital in Jhajjar from where they were referred to the PGIMS Rohtak following their critical condition.

Lokesh, a migrant labourer who resides in MP Majra village here, in his complaint lodged with the police said he, along with his family members, had gone to his village in UP to celebrate Diwali.

“On Saturday evening, we along with other residents of neighbouring villages, were returning to Jhajjar from Sambhal in the pick-up vehicle. Safeek was driving at high speed. We advised him to slow down the vehicle but he did not pay any heed. The overspeed led to the collision with the tractor-trailer,” he added.

ACP Gulab Singh said a preliminary probe suggested that the incident occurred due to negligent driving of the pick-up vehicle as it hit the tractor from behind. “The pick-up driver has been booked and will be arrested. He has not suffered any injury in the mishap,” he added.