HYDERABAD: A lorry, which reportedly entered the city during prohibited timings, crushed a woman and her 18-month-old son pillion-riding a bicycle near Puranapul Haradarwaja on Wednesday morning.

Death was instant for the woman, Vaasanthi, 22, and her son Pavan, while her husband Ramesh, who was riding the cycle, escaped with minor injuries. Migrants to city the from Warangal district recently, the wife and husband were living in a roadside hut at Jaffarguda.

Proceeding to work

They were going to work with the wife riding pillion and carrying the kid on her lap when the accident occurred around 8.40 a.m. According to eyewitnesses, a police constable standing near the Haradarwaja sub-control room blew the whistle asking the lorry driver to stop since heavy vehicles are barred from entering the city at that time.

"But apparently the driver got scared on seeing the constable and pressed the accelerator only to run into the cycle in the front," a passerby Shantilal said. While Ramesh fell on one side, his wife and son came under the wheels of the lorry. The injured labourer was shifted to the Osmania General Hospital. Doctors said he was out of danger.

Driver flees

The driver did not stop even after running over the two victims and fled abandoning the vehicle near Jummeratbazar after some local people chased the vehicle for over 100 yards. The lorry with a registration number of Haryana was laden with groceries. Police believe it was going to Begumbazar area for unloading.

Asked as to how the lorry driver had managed to enter the city during the restricted timings, Traffic DCP Anil Kumar said the matter was being inquired into. "Some vehicles manage to sneak into the city unauthorisedly hoodwinking our men," he said.

Ironic twist

Ironically, the accident occurred a day ahead of the meeting of lorry owners being organised by the Hyderabad Traffic Police to discuss the unauthorised entry of vehicles into the city leading to accidents. Mr. Kumar said a 24-hour ban on the entry of heavy vehicles on some routes was being contemplated taking into consideration the accidents and traffic snarls being caused by such vehicles.

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