Three Killed as Truck Crushes E-Rickshaw in Mymensingh

Three passengers were killed after a truck crushed a battery-powered auto-rickshaw on the Mymensingh–Kishoreganj Highway in the Shambhuganj area of Mymensingh Sadar upazila on Tuesday (21 July).

The tragic accident occurred at around noon near Sahek Kachari, according to police and local sources. The deceased comprised two women and one man, but their identities had not been established at the time of reporting.

According to preliminary information, the battery-powered e-rickshaw was carrying passengers along the highway when a truck collided with it and ran over the smaller vehicle. The force of the impact left the e-rickshaw badly mangled, leaving several passengers with serious injuries.

Local residents and members of the law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene after the crash and helped rescue the injured. They were subsequently taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Two passengers died at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries after being admitted to the hospital. The deaths brought the confirmed toll from the accident to three.

Mohammad Shibirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station in Mymensingh, confirmed the deaths. He said the truck had crushed the passenger-carrying e-rickshaw in the Sahek Kachari area, killing two people instantly. Several others were injured and taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where one more victim later died.

Police are working to establish the identities of the deceased. Once their identities are confirmed, officers are expected to contact their families and proceed with the necessary legal formalities.

Details about whether the crash caused a temporary disruption to traffic on the highway were not immediately available. The incident, however, has once again drawn attention to the safety challenges created by the movement of heavy vehicles alongside battery-powered e-rickshaws and other small passenger vehicles on busy highways.

The Mymensingh–Kishoreganj Highway is an important transport corridor in the region, carrying buses, trucks, goods vehicles and other forms of traffic throughout the day. At the same time, many residents depend on battery-powered e-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws for short-distance travel and local connectivity. The coexistence of relatively slow, smaller vehicles with heavier and potentially faster-moving traffic can increase the risk of serious collisions, particularly on busy stretches of highway.

Road crashes involving public transport vehicles often have consequences that extend well beyond the immediate loss of life. When a passenger or an earning member of a family is killed, relatives can face sudden emotional distress as well as financial uncertainty. The impact can be particularly severe for families that depend on a single income.

The latest crash has therefore renewed calls for greater attention to road safety, including responsible driving, appropriate speed control for heavy vehicles and safer arrangements for smaller passenger vehicles using major roads. Effective enforcement of traffic regulations and greater awareness among drivers and passengers are also regarded as essential to reducing the risk of fatal collisions.

However, the precise circumstances leading to Tuesday’s crash remain unclear. Police have not immediately provided details on how the truck and e-rickshaw collided, whether the truck driver remained at the scene after the accident, or whether anyone had been detained in connection with the incident.

The exact cause of the crash and responsibility for it are expected to become clearer once the police investigation progresses. Meanwhile, the injured passengers are receiving medical treatment, while authorities are continuing efforts to identify the three deceased victims.

After the identities are confirmed, the bodies are expected to be handed over to their families following the necessary procedures. Further legal action will be taken in accordance with the findings of the investigation.