BARABANKI: A speeding truck trailer allegedly ran over a family sleeping outside their home in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district, killing four people, including three children, and leaving a woman seriously injured during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, police said.The deceased were identified as 35-year-old Neeraj and three children — 13-year-old Anurag, 10-year-old Anshika and 6-year-old Anshu — who were sleeping outside the house when the accident took place.According to local residents and eyewitnesses, the trailer was coming from the Mahmoodabad side at around 1 am when it went out of control. The vehicle allegedly crushed the family before crashing into a roadside tree.Neeraj’s wife, Aarti, sustained serious injuries in the accident. She was first taken to the district hospital trauma centre and later referred to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Lucknow for advanced treatment.Villagers said the family had been sleeping outside due to continuous power cuts and extreme heat in the area. Locals also alleged that the trailer driver was asleep inside the vehicle while the steering wheel had been handed over to the helper, leading to the accident.Chaos and panic spread in the area after the incident as residents rushed to help the victims and shifted the injured to hospital.Police said the truck driver and helper fled the spot after abandoning the vehicle. Fatehpur police later reached the scene, seized the trailer and launched an investigation.Efforts are underway to trace the absconding accused and further legal action is being taken, police added.Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath took immediate cognisance of the accident and expressed deep grief over the loss of lives.The chief minister conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and directed officials to expedite relief work.
