An elderly woman riding pillion with her son on his motorcycle died after the two-wheeler was hit by a Tata Ace laden with fruits in Kankurgachi on Friday night.
Police said Juthika Biswas, 68, a widow and a resident of Baguiati, was returning home with her son when the accident happened on Manicktala Main Road around 9.30pm.
The woman’s son has told cops that they were returning home when Biswas had expressed her wish to visit Subhas Mela. The motorcycle was headed towards Acharya Prafulla Chandra Park, where the fair is being held, when the two-wheeler was hit by a vehicle from the back.
“As the motorcycle took a left turn towards APC Park, the accident happened within a few minutes. Had they been heading home, they would not have taken this route at all,” said an officer.
Another officer said the Tata Ace was moving at a high speed and apparently lost control before hitting the bike.
“Both vehicles were moving in the same direction. The Tata Ace had hit the motorcycle’s rear end as a result of which both the son and mother were flung off the bike and fell on the road,” said an officer of the fatal squad of the traffic police that has taken up probe of the case.
Both were wearing helmets, the police said.
Biswas received head injuries while her son — who runs a business — escaped with minor injuries. Biswas was taken to NRS hospital where she later died.
During investigation, the police found that the Tata Ace carrying fruits from central Calcutta was heading for Birati in North 24-Parganas. The driver of the Tata Ace was arrested and charged with sections of rash and negligent driving, causing death due to negligence and mischief.
A case has been registered with Phoolbagan police station, which was later taken over by the fatal squad of the traffic police.
The Tata Ace has been seized and will undergo a mechanical test to ascertain if the incident was the outcome of a mechanical fault because of human error.