A Don Bosco Academy teacher's death in an accident barely 200m from the school gate on Thursday has once again thrown up questions over road safety in the state capital, especially near schools.

Deepak Kumar (30), who had joined Don Bosco barely 20 days ago as computer teacher and was to be a father later this year, was reaching the school early morning when his two-wheeler collided with a truck.

The incident occurred when the Ashiana-Digha road was buzzing with activity and many students and teachers were reaching school. The school officials rushed to the spot immediately. Deepak died of excessive blood loss, eyewitnesses said.

"The incident occurred at around 6.15 am," said Rajkishore Baitha, a sub-inspector at the Saguna Mor traffic post. "Deepak was going to school on his bike from his Ara Garden residence on Bailey Road. At Ghod Doud roundabout a truck which was coming from the Ashiana side abruptly took a left turn after overtaking Deepak's vehicle. Deepak, who was behind the truck, lost control of his bike and the truck's rear wheels ran over him."

School authorities and students remembered Deepak as a jolly person who had won over hearts in a brief period of time.

"Deepak Sir was a very good teacher," said a Class IX student. "In a very short time he won students over with his sincerity. Yesterday, he was in a happy mood and shared with us that he is going to become a father soon."

Deepak, who had joined Don Bosco from St Karen's High School, had married Roma Sharma in November last year and she is three months pregnant, said Roma's uncle Ramesh Sharma.

"His family originally hailed from Bihta, but Deepak was living in the Ara Garden area along with his wife, mother, and a sister," Ramesh added.

"It is a shocking incident and great loss for us; we have lost a good teacher," said Don Bosco vice-principal Eric John de Rozario.

"The school will remain closed for two days on Friday and Saturday to grieve Deepak's untimely death."

Many school teachers visited Deepak's house and met his family members.

After the accident, the driver abandoned his truck and fled. Police have seized the truck and have lodged a case against the driver for rash and negligent driving, sub-inspector Baitha said.

Traffic police sources as well as residents said accidents have become a routine affair on city roads. On Monday, a young man, Ranjan Raj, was hit by a biker near Maurya Lok complex while crossing the road. Ranjan was rushed to Patna Medical College and Hospital, but was declared brought dead.

Roads near schools are especially accident-prone, traffic police sources said, as they don't have speed-breakers to check rash drivers.

"Road accidents, especially involving two-wheelers, are common near schools," said Om Prakash Gupta, a resident of Patel Nagar whose daughter studies in Class III at Mount Carmel.

"Mount Carmel is located on Bailey Road, but there are hardly any cops to check rash drivers, especially youngsters zooming on bikes."

Traffic policemen are also hard to find near Notre Dame Academy and St Joseph's Convent High School on Ashok Rajpath.

The traffic police, however, put the onus to check rash driving on the police stations.

"Traffic police are deputed at traffic junctions. When we come to know about cases of rash driving near schools, we take action. But it is the duty of the police stations concerned to check such rash driving," said Patna superintendent of police (traffic) P.K. Das.