The truck driver who ran over an 11-year-old girl and tried to escape was arrested after a dramatic 60-km police chase across Chhattisgarh on Friday, officials said.
The chase, which lasted nearly two hours and was captured in videos that were later circulated on social media, ended near the Maharashtra border when the truck went out of control and veered off the road, a PTI report said.
A girl was killed instantly
The incident started at Gundardhi village under Ambagarh Chowki police station limits on Rajnandgaon-Manpur road. Pitambar Patel, additional superintendent of police in the district, said the speeding truck hit 11-year-old Poonam, killing her on the spot.
Instead of stopping after the accident, the driver increased his speed and headed towards the mohalla in an apparent attempt to escape.
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He ran through police barricades
Police were alerted shortly after the incident and set up barricades outside Mohla Police Station to intercept the vehicle. The agency added that the driver ignored the presence of the police, rammed the back of a truck parked near the station and broke through the barriers before speeding towards Manpur.
As the chase intensified, another checkpoint was set up near the SDM office in Manpur. But the driver tried again to evade arrest. Police said he drove his car over barricades and towed it for some distance before entering Manpur town.
During the chase, police officers miraculously escaped being hit by the truck.
The chase ends near Maharashtra
The chase finally ended near Korkutty village, about six kilometers from the Maharashtra border. Officials said the truck went out of control and veered off the road, allowing police teams to arrest the driver.
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The driver was injured and was taken to Manpur Hospital for treatment. Police said he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
Back in Gundardihi village, residents staged a protest after the incident. The villagers placed the girl’s body on the road and stopped traffic for about two hours, demanding action against the accused.
The blockade was lifted only after senior police officials arrived at the scene and assured the demonstrators that strict action would be taken.
After the autopsy, Poonam’s body was handed over to her family.
The police registered a case against the driver and seized the truck bearing Maharashtra registration number.
(with PTI inputs)
