Death of 14 in Jhalakathi road crash: Truck driver, helper arrested

Whole Country

Police arrested the driver and the helper of the truck that ran through several vehicles before plunging into a roadside ditch near Gabkhan Bridge in Jhalakathi on Wednesday afternoon.

At least 14 people were killed and several others were injured in the accident that occurred on the Khulna-Barishal regional Highway at around 1:30 pm.

The district administration has formed a four-member probe committee, headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Ruhul Amin to investigate the incident. Deputy Commissioner Farah Gul Nijhum said the committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days.

Meanwhile, Jhalakathi Superintendent of Police Afruzul Haque Tutul said they primarily believed that the truck driver lost control over his vehicle due to a brake failure and ploughed through ten vehicles, including an auto-rickshaw and a private car, standing in front of the toll gate of the bridge, leaving six people died on the spot and several others injured.

Six others were declared dead after being taken to Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital and two injured persons succumbed at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMC) later.