Dhenkanal, Feb. 12: Four persons of a family and an autorickshaw driver died in a road accident on NH-55 at Chainpur, 20km from here, early this morning.

The victims were identified as Kanak Pradhan, 60, Kanhu Pradhan, 38, Udari Naik, 35, Sudarshan Naik, 40, and the driver, Basanta Sahu, 40. All of them belonged to Gunduripasi village of Joranda area in the district.

Family members of Kanak, who had been undergoing treatment at Talcher, were taking her to the village today morning when the mishap took place.

Kanhu was Kanak’s son, while Udari and Sudarshan happened to be her daughter and son in-law.

The accident took place when the autorickshaw they were travelling in dashed against a speeding truck.

“We woke up in the morning when we heard a loud sound on the NH and presumed that it might be an accident. We rushed to the spot, some metres away, and found blood-stained bodies lying around. It seems that the truck driver was driving reckless which had led to such an accident,” said local resident Dusmanta Pradhan.

“The autorickshaw was badly damaged as it was run over by the truck. Almost all died on the spot, but they were shifted to Dhenkanal district headquarters hospital where they were declared brought dead,” said inspector in charge of Dhenkanal sadar police station Suresh Naik.

Traffic movement on the national highway No. 55 halted for some time following the mishap. The police seized the truck, but the driver and helper fled away.