At least five people were killed and another was injured when a drum truck rammed into a battery-powered van at Mahadevpur upazila in Naogaon on early Saturday.

The deceased were identified as Biren Pahan, 35, son of late Koka Pahan, Ujjal Pahan, 38, son of late Naren Pahan, Bipul Pahan, 25, son of Jhotu Pahan, Sanju Oraon, 45, son of late Mongra Oraon, and Shyamantra, 28, son of Ramesh — all residents of village Nurpur under Enayetpur union in the upazila.

Md Sohidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Mahadebpur Police Station, told New Age that the accident occurred at about 4:30am on the highway near the Patkati Shibpur BRAC office when victims were travelling to Mahadebpur Bazar in a battery-powered van to sell raw turmeric.

He said that when the van reached near the Patkati Shibpur BRAC office, a speeding drum truck coming from the opposite direction lost control and crashed into the vehicle, leaving four people dead on the spot.

Locals rescued two injured passengers and rushed them to Mahadevpur Upazila Health Complex from where Shyamantra was referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital but died from his injuries on the way to the hospital, the police official said.

He said that both the driver and the helper managed to flee following the incident as the truck veered off the road and fell into a roadside ditch after the collision.

‘The bodies were kept at Mahadevpur Upazila Health Complex,’ he said, adding that necessary legal steps were underway.