Seven killed as van rams into tree on GT Road

NHMP says driver lost control while overtaking a dumper truck

ISLAMABAD: Seven people were killed and eight injured on Friday when a speeding van collided with a tree while overtaking a dumper truck near Kamra on Grand Trunk Road.

A spokesman of the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) said the driver of the Rawalpindi-bound passenger van lost control due to over speeding.

He said that five people died on the spot while two succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital.

According to the NHMP statement a passenger van numbered LES 7106 met an accident at Fatehullah Village, near Harro Toll Plaza leaving seven dead and eight injured. Van driver and a woman sitting on the front seat were among the victims.

Police quoting the injured said that the van driver lost control of the vehicle while overtaking a dumper truck. The van first hit the median than skidded off the road and struck a tree head on.

The deceased were identified as driver Niaz Ali, Azmat Hayat, Shad Gull, Khaista Rehman, Abdul Hameed, Ajmeena Khair Shah and an unidentified boy aged 17 years.

Passengers who sustained serious injuries included Asif Aslam, Rashid Ishaq, Zafar Jamal, whereas, Muhammad Ameer, Bilal Tauseef, Malang Mirza, Waqas Shabir and an unidentified man aged 41 years received minor injuries.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2017.