A 40-year-old woman and her two-year-old son were killed after a trailer-truck ran them over while they were crossing a road near Barhi Chowk in Hazaribag district on Wednesday, according to police. The incident also led local authorities to launch a drive against roadside encroachments in the area.
The deceased were identified as Urmila Devi, a resident of Kevaliya village in Bihar’s Gaya district, and her son Dipanshu Kumar. Police said the two were crossing the road along with three other children when the truck hit them. Urmila was reportedly travelling to her in-laws’ home in Gaya from her paternal house in Khairakarma, under Tatijharia block of Hazaribag district.
The group had been crossing the road to board a vehicle, police said. The trailer-truck struck the woman and the child, killing them at the spot. The three other children accompanying them — Shivani Kumari, Shubham Kumar and Satyam Kumar — escaped unhurt.
The incident brought officials from the local administration and police to Barhi Chowk. An administrative team comprising Barhi sub-divisional officer Johan Tuddu, sub-divisional police officer Radha Prem Kishor and officials from the local police station reached the location after the crash.
The bodies were taken to Barhi Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem examination, Barhi police station in-charge Vinod Kumar said. The post-mortem process is part of the police investigation into the deaths.
Following the incident, the SDPO and police officials launched a drive against roadside encroachments in the area. The action connected the crash site with a recurring road-management concern: the use of road edges and roadside space in ways that can affect movement and visibility for pedestrians and vehicles. The police did not provide details of the specific encroachments targeted or announce whether any structures or vendors had been removed.
The deaths also highlight the immediate risks faced by pedestrians who must cross roads to reach vehicles, particularly at busy junctions and transport points. In this case, police said Urmila and the children were attempting to board a vehicle when the collision occurred.
No arrest had been made in the case till late Wednesday evening, according to the report. Police had not announced further details about the trailer-truck driver, the vehicle’s ownership, or any charges filed in connection with the crash. The investigation and post-mortem examination were continuing.
