Bike hit by speeding truck catches fire in Ghaziabad, rider critical

The police said that the truck was speeding and rammed Iqbal’s bike from behind.

In a freak incident, an 18-year-old biker sustained critical burn injuries when the petrol tank of his bike caught fire after being hit by a speeding truck on NH-24 in Ghaziabad on Thursday afternoon.

According to the family, the victim, Iqbal, of Dudhiya Peepal locality in Dasna, was on his way to Delhi when his bike was hit by a speeding truck near the bypass police post at Vijay Nagar on Thursday. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

The victim’s family said that the biker was rushed to a hospital in Delhi where he was declared to have suffered nearly 70% burn injuries and is in a critical condition.

According to the family, the victim, Iqbal, of Dudhiya Peepal locality in Dasna, was on his way to Delhi when his bike was hit by a speeding truck near the bypass police post at Vijay Nagar on Thursday.

“He is in a critical condition and is in undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with more than 70% burns. His bike caught fire when it was hit from behind by the truck. We have brought him to Delhi for treatment,” said Shahzad, Iqbal’s brother.

The police said that the truck was speeding and rammed Iqbal’s bike from behind.

“As a result, the bike skidded along with the truck for a couple of metres and caught fire. Probably, the petrol in the tank caught fire and the man also suffered burns. He was rushed to the government hospital from where he was referred to a hospital in Delhi,” said Naresh Singh, station house officer, Vijay Nagar police station.

The truck that was loaded with cement bags has been seized. “The driver has also been detained and will be arrested as soon as the victim’s family files a complaint,” he said.

It took locals and the police nearly 15 minutes to rescue Iqbal from the burning bike. The bike got completely charred and has been brought to the police post, the police said.