Jalandhar: Four people sustained injuries after a container truck allegedly veered across the divider and collided head-on with a tipper carrying gravel on the Jalandhar-Ludhiana National Highway on Tuesday, triggering heavy traffic congestion and panic among commuters.
The accident occurred near Eastwood Village on the Amritsar-Delhi highway stretch. The impact of the collision was so severe that a few nearby vehicles also suffered damage, creating chaos on the busy route and leading to a long queue of stranded vehicles.
Residents and passersby rushed to the spot soon after the crash and helped rescue the injured before emergency services arrived. Ambulances shifted all four victims to the Civil Hospital in Phagwara for medical treatment.
Police teams reached the location promptly and, with the assistance of cranes, removed the damaged trucks from the highway. Traffic movement on the affected carriageway was gradually restored after nearly an hour of clearance operations.
According to preliminary findings, the mishap appears to have been caused by the container truck driver allegedly falling asleep at the wheel. Investigators said the vehicle drifted across the divider into the opposite lane, where it struck the approaching tipper.
Police officials said one of the injured suffered a fractured leg, while the remaining three sustained serious injuries. Their identities were not immediately confirmed as they were receiving treatment and were reportedly unable to provide details due to their condition.
Authorities have initiated further investigation into the incident while urging motorists to avoid driving long distances without adequate rest, highlighting the dangers of fatigue behind the wheel.
