QUETTA: Eleven people were killed and 30 others injured in a head-on collision between a coach and a truck on the RCD highway in Uthal area on Monday.

The cause of the accident is said to be speeding and fog.

Uthal police said the accident occurred early in the morning when the Karachi-bound coach collided with the truck coming from the opposite direction.

“The collision took place between the Karachi-bound coach coming from Quetta and a truck, leaving 11 people dead,” a police official said. Seven children, two women and the truck driver were among the dead, he said, adding that the accident left 30 others wounded.

Six people were killed on the spot and five others died on their way to hospital.

Rescue workers had to cut the twisted wreckage of the two vehicles to pull out the bodies and the injured.

The victims were taken to Uthal and Hub hospitals. Some of the critically wounded were later shifted to Karachi hospitals.

Police said the coach driver fled the scene after the accident which might have been caused by speeding and fog.

Some shopkeepers in the area said the bus was moving in high speed and visibility was very low because of heavy fog at the time of the accident.

Published in Dawn, October 21st , 2014