UditVani, Jamshedpur : A devastating road mishap on NH-18 at Jharia Mode, Baharagora, claimed three lives in the wee hours of Friday after a car slammed into a slow-moving trailer.
The deceased were identified as Ganesh Ray (50) of Calcutta, who was driving the vehicle, along with Kushumita Patnaik (55) and her daughter Monika Patnaik (28) of Kadma, Jamshedpur.
The family was returning from Calcutta when the accident occurred.
Police sources said the trailer was attempting a U-turn at the Jharia Mode roundabout when the speeding car collided with it.
Investigations suspect the driver may have dozed off behind the wheel, losing control at high speed and triggering the fatal crash.
Local police rushed to the spot and shifted the critically injured trio to Baharagora Community Health Centre, where doctors declared them dead.
The bodies were later sent to Ghatsila Sub-Divisional Hospital for postmortem.
Meanwhile, the trailer driver fled the spot, abandoning his vehicle, and a manhunt has been launched to trace him.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the deadly consequences of fatigue and over-speeding on highways.
