A pregnant woman and her husband, both in their 20s, died in Haroa’s Kulgachhi in North 24-Parganas on Friday night when their motorcycle was run over by a truck loaded with stone chips.
The mishap occurred around 10pm when the couple were returning home in Brahmanchak village after a visit to the doctor.
Police and local sources said the truck, speeding along Haroa-Radhanagar road, hit the motorbike and ran over Pijush Mandal, 28, and Sathi Mandal, 21, when they fell off on the Sankarpur-Kulgachi bridge.
Residents rushed them to the Haroa rural hospital where Sathi was pronounced dead. Pijush, who suffered multiple injuries, was transferred to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta. He succumbed to his injuries on the way.
Family sources said Sathi was seven months pregnant. “She had developed some health problems and that’s why the couple went to consult a doctor,” a family member said.
Angry residents on Friday night alleged negligence on the part of the police in controlling reckless driving on the road.
“The Haroa-Radhanagar road has become a nightmare because of reckless driving by trucks. The police stay mute spectators. A number of accidents have occurred on the stretch in the recent past and several lives have been lost. The police do not book speeding drivers and motorists,” said local resident Bablu Roy.
Refuting the allegations, an officer of Haroa police station said: “We often conduct surprise raids and take action against errant drivers. Still, some do act desperately flouting all rules. We have begun a probe into Friday’s accident and have seized the truck. Search is on for the driver, who managed to flee.”