The vegetable carrier that met with the accident at Namkum on Wednesday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, April 13: Lust for speed claimed a life at dawn on the outskirts of the capital today.

A vegetable dealer from Bengal’s Midnapore district, Amrendranath Giri (32), died on the spot while his helper, Tinku Giri, sustained injuries when their van loaded with sacks of lady’s finger rammed into a tree near Sarwal More, about 15km from the district headquarters, around 5am.

A local resident said that the van was headed towards the city when the accident took place.

Officer in charge of Namkum police station Satyendra Narayan Singh said he was informed around 6am.

“We rushed to the spot and took both victims to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where doctors declared Amrendranath Giri dead. Tinku Giri has been admitted to the neuro-surgery ward. His condition is serious,” Singh said.

The officer conceded that the accident could have been averted if the speed of the vehicle was within the permissible limit of 40kmph.

“Besides, it was morning hours; the vegetable dealer may have been dozing at the wheel while the vehicle was racing down the road. Movement of vehicles is limited along this particular stretch and an accident is unwarranted,” he said.

Police have seized the van and registered a case of accident. A post-mortem on Amrendranath’s body is awaited at RIMS.