August 28, 2008	Thursday	Sha'aban 25, 1429

KARACHI, Aug 27: A 22-year-old woman was killed and her fiancé and a cousin were injured in the small hours of Wednesday when a water tanker overturned, crushing the victims’ car near Metropole Hotel, police and witnesses said.

The witnesses said the water tanker overturned after one of its tyres burst with a bang at around 1am and landed on the Toyota 2D occupied by a young woman and two young men.

They said the victims were taken out of the smashed car after the overturned water tanker was pulled away with the help of a crane.

The witnesses said the woman, who was sitting on the back seat, died instantly. Her fiancé, who drove the car, was among the injured.

They said the driver of the water tanker fled the scene immediately after the accident.

The body and the injured men were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where they were identified as Fauzia, daughter of Mohammed Aslam, Kamran, 32, and Nadeem, 30.

The Artillery Maidan police registered a case against the unknown tanker driver on the complaint of the deceased’s brother, Basharat Ali.

The investigation officer, ASI Liaquat Awan, told Dawn that victim Fauzia was the fiancée of injured Kamran, who was also her cousin. He said injured Nadeem was also stated to be the cousin of the victim.

The police officer said that the deceased woman was a resident of Gulshan-i-Mazdoor near Hub River Road. He said the victim’s father was in the looms business.

ASI Awan said that the police had impounded the water tanker and efforts were being made to locate the owner of the vehicle to track down the absconding driver.“We have mounted a search for the driver”, he added.

He quoted the family of the victim woman as telling the police that Nikah of Fauzia and Kamran had been solemnized and the Rukhsati was scheduled to be held shortly.

The police officer said that Kamran was discharged from the hospital after treatment as he was slightly injured, while Nadeem was later shifted to a private hospital for treatment.