Patna: A 30-year-old woman and her three-year-old daughter died, while three other members of the same family sustained serious injuries in a road accident on the Patna-Sarmera National Highway on Thursday morning.The accident occurred around 7am near Saidanpur village under Gaurichak police station area when a speeding sand-laden truck allegedly lost control after one of its rear tyres burst and rammed into an autorickshaw.Patna Sadar SDPO-II Ranjan Kumar said Gautam Kumar, a resident of Jamalpur, was travelling to Fatuha with his wife, two children and other family members for his children’s medical treatment when the accident took place. “The truck hit the autorickshaw with great force, severely damaging the vehicle. The truck driver fled the spot after the incident,” he said.Seema Kumari (30), Gautam’s wife, and their three-year-old daughter Riya Kumari died on the spot. Gautam Kumar, his eight-year-old son and another family member suffered serious injuries. Local residents rescued the injured from the wreckage and rushed them to a nearby hospital. They were later referred to Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH), Patna, for treatment. The autorickshaw driver sustained minor injuries.The incident triggered protests by family members and local residents, who blocked the Patna-Sarmera highway and raised slogans against the administration over recurring accidents on the stretch. Protesters demanded stricter enforcement against speeding vehicles and improved road safety measures. Police later cleared the blockade and restored traffic.The bodies have been sent for postmortem, and police have launched an investigation to identify the truck and trace its driver. “Efforts are underway to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the collision,” the SDPO said.
