Two people died after a watermelon-laden truck lost control and hit a tree on the Dhaka-Khulna highway in Ghopghat area of Bagat Union in Madhukhali upazila of Faridpur on Tuesday morning.
The deceased were identified as Md Idris Ali, 30, the driver of the truck and a resident of village Habaspur, and his assistant Md Faisal Khan, 25, of village Madhyapul under Keshabpur upazila in Jashore, said Karimpur Highway Police Station sub-inspector Md Anwar Hossain.
The accident took place when the Dhaka鈥揵ound truck from Khulna lost its control and rammed into a roadside tree. After the collision, the truck got stuck with the tree, trapping both the driver and his assistant inside.
Madhukhali Fire Service station officer Rashedul Alam said that upon receiving the news, rescue operations were immediately launched with support from the Magura Fire Service and Highway Police.
After a rescue operation for two hours, firefighter pulled both men out of the truck. The driver鈥檚 assistant died on the spot, while the driver was declared dead after being taken to Madhukhali Upazila Health Complex.
The bodies were kept at Madhukhali Upazila Health Complex and will be handed over to the families following legal procedures. Vehicular movement on the highway were halted for about an hour after the accident but returned to normal after the rescue operation, added the SI.
