The accident spot at Rupali Square in Saheed Nagar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 11: A 42-year-old motorcycle rider died after being hit by a speeding truck at Rupali Square this morning.

The victim, Chinmay Biswal, was chasing a school bus from Saheed Nagar because his daughter and nephew, both of whom study in the same school, could not board it. While Biswal succumbed to injuries at a private hospital, his daughter and nephew escaped with minor injuries.

Saheed Nagar police seized the truck from the accident spot, but the driver managed to flee. Eyewitnesses said while Biswal was going towards Acharya Vihar Square from Saheed Nagar, the speeding mini-truck was coming from Master Canteen Square. The accident took place 7.30am.

“There was very little traffic on the road when the accident took place. The two kids, who were riding pillion, were thrown off when the truck hit the two-wheeler. The victim was dragged some distance along with the motorcycle,” said Sukant Nayak, a vendor who informed the police about the accident.

Saheed Nagar police rushed Biswal and the two kids, Pragyan Paramita and Subham, to a local private hospital. Biswal, who had sustained injuries on his chest and head, died soon after, said his relatives.

Biswal’s family members said he could not be saved despite the best attempts by the doctors. His daughter, Pragyan Paramita, 7, a Class III student and his nephew Subham, 4, who studies in lower kindergarten at a public school in Chandrasekharpur, were released from the hospital after primary treatment.

“Both the kids suffered injuries on their faces, hands and other parts of their bodies,” said Akhaya Kumar Sahu, a relative of the victims.

A contractor by profession, Biswal missed the school bus this morning by a few minutes. His family is originally from Pattamundai in Kendrapara district, but has been staying in the capital for more than two decades now.

A number of early-morning accidents have been taking place on the capital’s roads in the past few months. Senior traffic police officers have blamed drivers saying they drive recklessly during that time because the roads are not crowded.

“People must be aware of road rules and drive following norms even in the morning and at night when the traffic police are not on duty,” said a police officer.