Police fail to rein in 'killer' tankers

Heavy vehicles caused 70 deaths out of total 221 lives lost this year

KARACHI:

In the never-ending cycle of traffic accidents involving heavy vehicles in the city, another accident was witnessed on Thursday. A water tanker ran over a motorcyclist near Manghopir, Naya Nazimabad, killing him on the spot.

SHO Manghopir Imran Khan said that the deceased was identified as 35-year-old Muhammad Ibrahim Khan. The driver responsible for the accident fled the scene; however, the water tanker was shifted to the police station. Police are conducting raids in search of the driver.

The deceased's neighbour, Nafees, said that Ibrahim Khan was a preacher and Quran reciter at a mosque. Ibrahim, a resident of Pakhtunabad, was father of two children.

The deceased hailed from K-P and was returning home after Taraweeh prayers on his motorcycle when tragedy struck.

This year, 221 people have been killed in traffic accidents, with 70 of those deaths caused by heavy vehicles. The body of the deceased was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for post-mortem.

Meanwhile, a young motorcyclist died while another was left injured after being hit by a speeding trailer in the limits of Surjani Town police station. The victims were transported to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The deceased was identified as 16-year-old Muhammad Owais and the injured was identified as Muhammad Naeem.

Surjani Town SHO told The Express Tribune that the deceased was heading to a canal in the Manghopir police jurisdiction with friends, when the speeding trailer hit them and fled the scene. The police have launched a search operation to track down the trailer.