A cement-laden 16-wheeler truck crashed near Suktel Bridge on National Highway 26 in Bolangir late Saturday night, killing the driver and critically injuring the helper.
The truck was travelling from Bargarh to Bolangir when it lost balance at high speed around midnight. It rammed into the bridge railing and plunged below, breaking nearly 30 feet of the barrier. Police suspect overspeeding caused the accident.
Driver Ganesh Nag (32), a resident of Jorumal village under Rajgangpur police limits, died on the spot. Helper Sameer Khalko sustained severe injuries. Police and fire services rescued him and shifted him to Bhimabhoi Hospital in Balangir for treatment.
The accident damaged the Sukhtel Bridge structure, raising safety concerns for commuters. Locals gathered at the site and expressed shock over the incident. Authorities confirmed that further investigation will reveal the exact cause of the crash.
