Reckless driving: Eight dead as coach collides with tanker near Khuzdar

Overspeeding cited as prime cause; coach driver alive and in custody

QUETTA: Eight passengers were killed and 11 others were injured on Saturday when a Karachi-bound coach collided with an oil tanker on the Quetta-Karachi Highway near Khuzdar.

Confirming the incident and the number of casualties, Khuzdar Assistant Commissioner (AC) Sarmad Saleem said the accident was caused by overspeeding.

An eyewitness said the coach was attempting to overtake another vehicle when it collided with the oil tanker. At the time of the head-on collision, both vehicles were speeding, he said.

Rescue workers and Levies personnel rushed to the scene of the accident. The casualties were moved to the Khuzdar District Hospital where many were pronounced dead on arrival.

Many of the injured were in critical condition as well, according to doctors at the hospital.

AC Sarmad, meanwhile, said the driver of the coach was alive and in custody. “We will investigate all aspects of the incident and bring whoever is responsible to justice,” he added.

The Quetta-Karachi Highway has a history of deadly accidents. Many of them have been caused by poor infrastructure, overspeeding and recklessness.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2015.