Betul, March 15 – An 18-year-old youth was killed, and his companion is in critical condition after being hit by a speeding truck on the Betul-Sarni State Highway.
The incident occurred late Saturday night when a speeding, unidentified truck sped away from the scene, prompting police to launch a search for the driver.
The victim, identified as Shanni, a resident of Shobhapur village, was riding a motorcycle with his friend Prakash.
The two were travelling between the Bagdona and Salaiya localities, under the jurisdiction of the Sarni police station, when the accident occurred around midnight, according to police officials.
According to the police, the truck approached at high speed and collided with the motorcycle with considerable force. The impact threw both young men onto the road, leaving them with serious injuries.
Shanni died at the scene or shortly afterwards, while Prakash sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed to the district hospital in Betul, where he remains in critical condition under intensive medical care, police officials added.
The truck driver is alleged to have fled the scene immediately after the accident without stopping to assist the injured or inform the authorities, turning the incident into a hit-and-run case.
Local residents who reached the scene shortly after the accident alerted the authorities and helped shift the injured to hospital.
Sarni police have registered a case against the unidentified truck driver under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Indian Penal Code, including charges related to reckless and negligent driving causing death and fleeing the accident scene.
A search operation is underway, with police teams checking nearby highways, weighbridges, and transport hubs to trace the vehicle and driver.
Police are also examining CCTV footage from the area, if available, and have appealed to the public to share any information that could help identify the truck involved in the accident.
The family of the deceased is devastated, while local residents have expressed grief over the incident and demanded swift action against the accused.