Bhubaneswar, April 19: One person was killed and three injured after a sand-laden truck hit a SUV at Power House Square here.

The SUV was on its way to Puri carrying three tourists, who were senior employees of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) in Calcutta.

The deceased has been identified as Manoranjan Sahu, 35, the driver of the SUV.

The injured are M. Bhattacharya, Amitabh Sarkar and P. Ray Choudhury.

While Ray Choudhury, 56, is the executive director, transport and shipping, Sarkar, 59, is executive director, finance. Bhattacharya, 59, is the executive director, operation, and is a native of Uttar Pradesh.

The accident took place around 4.30am when the truck coming from DAV School side hit the SUV.

"We suspect that the truck might have hit the vehicle and then crushed it. Sahu, the driver of the vehicle, died on the spot and the three injured were rushed to Capital Hospital from where they were referred to a private hospital," said a senior police official.

The cops have seized the truck, but the driver has managed to escape.

The tourists from Bengal were staying at a hotel near Jaydev Vihar.

"All of them were staying at a hotel and the private travel agency, which provided the SUV, told us that they were supposed to board a flight from Biju Patnaik International Airport at 11am today. We have also examined the CCTV footage and are trying to nab the driver of the truck," said inspector in-charge of Capital Police Station, Manas Ranjan Garanaik.

The police said the impact was so severe that the SUV was crushed and dragged for some distance.

"The injured were lucky as they were on rear seat," said a police official.

According to police records, though the number of road mishaps, including those taking place on the national highways, has decreased in 2014 as compared to 2013, the death toll has increased.

While 96 people died in 233 accidents on national highways passing through the city in 2013, the death toll came down to 80 in 2014.