A van driver was killed and a passenger was seriously injured after an ambulance struck their vehicle from behind in Mahadevpur upazila of Naogaon on Monday morning.
The deceased was identified as Niren Chandra Barman, also known as Hiren, 45, son of the late Dhiren Chandra Barman of Mugrail village in Mahadevpur. The injured passenger was identified as Paresh Chandra Barman, 58, from the same village. He is the son of the late Adhir Chandra Barman.
The accident occurred on the road north of Madina Petrol Pump in Enayetpur village of the upazila on 5 October.
According to police and local residents, Niren was travelling towards Mahadevpur on the van with Paresh as a passenger. At one point, an unidentified ambulance travelling from the Nazipur direction approached from behind and collided with the van.
The impact threw both the driver and passenger onto the road, leaving them critically injured. Local residents rushed to the scene and rescued the two men before taking them to Mahadevpur Upazila Health Complex for treatment.
After examining Niren, the attending doctor declared him dead. Paresh, who had sustained serious injuries, was subsequently referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
The identity of the ambulance involved in the collision was not immediately established. Details of the circumstances surrounding the crash were also not available at the time of reporting.
Mahadevpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Omar Faruk confirmed the incident. He said police recovered Niren’s body after receiving information about the accident. Following the preparation of a preliminary inquest report, the body was handed over to his family.
The police officer said legal proceedings were under way in connection with the incident. Authorities are expected to take necessary steps to establish the circumstances of the collision and determine the vehicle involved.
Road accidents involving smaller vehicles such as vans can have severe consequences because their occupants have relatively little protection in a collision with larger or faster-moving vehicles. The incident has also highlighted the risks faced by people travelling on local roads, where traffic includes a mix of vans, ambulances and other vehicles.
