Two persons, including a police constable, died in separate road accidents on Saturday night. Both accidents involved two-wheelers and goods vehicles, which allegedly hit the bikes.
A 26-year-old woman died after the two-wheeler on which she was riding pillion was hit by a truck on Northern Avenue around 11.20pm on Saturday, police said.
“As the truck hit the scooter, Rinku Mallick, 32, fell on the road. Rinku, a resident of Lala Bagan Road, and Rahul Hela, 24, who was riding the bike, were wearing helmets. Rinku suffered fatal head injuries, while Rahul suffered waist injuries,” said an officer of Kolkata police’s traffic department.
Both were taken to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where Rinku was declared dead. Rahul was admitted to the hospital.
The police seized the truck but the driver fled.
Around 20 minutes later, Napolean Balowari, 45, a constable of Kolkata police’s traffic guard headquarters, apparently fell off a two-wheeler while trying to overtake a truck and was run over by the goods vehicle on RG Kar Road.
Balowari was returning home to Rajarhat when the accident happened.
“Balowari lost balance and slipped off his seat while trying to overtake the truck. He fell on the road and came under the wheels of the truck,” said an officer of the fatal squad of the traffic police.
Balowari was taken to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where he was declared dead.
Officers of Ultadangapolice station arrested the truck driver and seized the vehicle. A case under an IPC section related to causing death due to negligence has been started against the driver.
The fatal squad of the traffic police is investigating both cases.
According to statistics available at Lalbazar, more than one-third of the fatal accidents that are reported in Kolkata every year occur between 10pm and 6am. “There is a general tendency to speed at night as there are fewer vehicles on roads. The majority of the accidents that happen at night can be averted if motorists abide by the speed rule,” said an officer at Lalbazar.