Bhubaneswar: A youth died at Palasuni Square here after a speeding truck reportedly hit him from behind Saturday. The deceased was identified as Birendra Kumar Swain, 22, of Naranpur village in Kendrapara district. While police said Swain was on foot when the mishap occurred, eyewitness version contradicts it.
According to sources, Swain was working in a granite tile shop at Nakhara for the last seven months. He had come to Palasuni market on a motorcycle (OD 02 2659) of his friend for unknown reasons.
When he was going on foot after parking the bike at the roadside near the State Bank of India’s Palasuni branch, the truck (OR 16 A 5085) coming from Cuttack side hit him. Swain fell down on the road. Locals rushed a profusely bleeding Swain to the Capital Hospital where he was declared ‘brought dead’.
However, an eyewitness has a different version on the incident. He claimed that the truck brushed with the bike while Swain was trying to overtake another biker. He died of head injuries after falling off his bike.
Surprisingly, no noticeable damage was caused to Swain’s motorcycle.
Meanwhile, the police placated the enraged locals who were trying to set the truck on fire. The front windscreen of the truck was damaged by the public. The truck driver is absconding.