All the victims, including six of a family, were on the autorickshaw when the accident occurred in Bagmara Jamtoli Bazar area around 12:15pm on Sunday, Lalmai Police Station OC Badrul Alam Talukder said.
The dead are Jasim Uddin, 45, his wife Selina Begum, 40, mother Sokina Begfum, 70, sons ‘Shipon’, 23, and Hridoy Hossain, 15, daughter Nipu Akter, 13, employee ‘Saimun’, 15, and driver Jamal Hossain, 35.
Jasim’s son ‘Rifat’, 8, was sent to Dhaka for treatment in a critical condition, the OC said.
Cumilla Superintendent of Police Syed Nurul Islam, quoting witnesses, blamed the driver of the bus of Tisha Paribahan for the accident. The suspect fled the scene after the accident, he said.
“The autorickshaw was on the right place. The bus veered to the wrong lane while overtaking a truck recklessly. It hit the autorickshaw head-on. A microbus hit the autorickshaw from behind at the time,” the SP said.
“The autorickshaw was twisted between the two vehicles,” he said.