A truck driver allegedly dozed off while driving at high speed and ran over six people, killing five on the spot, on the Jabalpur–Amarkantak National Highway in Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh in the wee hours of Sunday.
According to the police, the incident occurred near Kikratalaab village under the Gadasarai police station limits at around 1 AM.
The victims were travelling in a pickup van when its tyre got punctured. The driver stopped the vehicle on the road and began changing the tyre.
The other passengers were standing on the road at the time. The speeding truck then ran over them.
According to Dindori SP Vahini Singh, five people, including the pickup van driver, were killed on the spot, while one person sustained injuries.
She said the police have arrested the truck driver, who claimed that he had dozed off. However, the driver also alleged that the victims were standing in the middle of the road.
The police have seized the truck, and further investigation is underway.