Phagwara, July 8 - Three people were killed and three others were seriously injured when a pickup van loaded with marble and tiles overturned near Shehnai Resort on the Phillaur Highway this morning. The accident took place around 8:30 am. The speeding pickup truck lost control and overturned after hitting a pothole on the road.
According to the Road Safety Force (SSF) of Punjab Police, there were six people in the pickup van at the time of the accident. Some of them were laborers sitting on the roof of the vehicle. The accident was so terrible that the heavy marble and tiles loaded in the van fell on the laborers sitting on the roof, causing them serious injuries. Two people died on the spot while the third succumbed to his injuries during treatment in the hospital.
The SSF team, which reached the spot first, admitted three injured to a nearby hospital. The fourth injured was taken to a 108 emergency ambulance, but was later declared dead. None of the victims have been identified so far.
The driver of the vehicle, who narrowly escaped the accident, said that the truck went out of control due to a sudden speed breaker near the resort.
He confirmed that there were seven people in the pickup van. Phillaur police have launched an investigation to find out the cause of the accident. However, in the initial investigation, the cause of the accident is considered to be overloading and high speed.