Woman, infant die as tanker crushes family on bike

A woman and her infant son died while her husband was critically injured when a speeding water bowser ran over their motorcycle before ramming into an electricity pylon in Orangi Town on Saturday. Moreover, three people lost their lives in separate road accidents in different areas of the city.

As per details, Muhammad Musa and his wife Sidra, residents of Aligarh Colony, were on their way to a hospital to see a paeditrician for their seven-month-old son Ramzan Musa when a recklessly driven water tanker coming from behind ran over their motorcycle at Qasbah Mor in Shahzad Chowk.

Witnesses said that the tanker rammed into an electricity pole after crushing the family. The driver fled the scene, leaving the tanker behind.

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As passersby gathered at the scene, they found that 24-year-old Sidra and her son Ramzan had already died, while the child's father, Musa, was severely injured. The victims were rushed to a hospital.

After the medico-legal formalities the police handed over the bodies to the family. Doctors at the Civil Hospital, where Musa was taken, said that his condition is critical. Musa is a watchman at a factory and had only one child.

Police are conducting raids to locate the driver and owner of the tanker.

The victims' family and neighbours have voiced their concerns at the absence of speed breakers at the crash site which encourages tanker drivers to speed, leading to three to four accidents each week. They have previously reported their concerns to the relevant authorities, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

In a separate incident, a 20-year-old man, identified as Nabeel, lost his life after his motorcycle slipped on Sharea Faisal near Baloch Colony Bridge on Saturday morning. His body was shifted to the JPMC.

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In a third accident, a 65-year-old man, Hasnain, died after being struck by a car while crossing the road on Hub River Road in Baldia Town.

In yet another incident, a bus and a rickshaw collided near Saleem Centre in New Karachi, injuring six people. One of the injured, Danish, 35, later succumbed to his injuries. Danish, who was the third of six siblings, owned a clothing stall at Nagan Chowrangi. Three women are among the six injured persons. Following the collision, the bus driver fled the scene but was subsequently arrested by police.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2023.