Dhenkanal: In a tragic road mishap, at least four persons were killed today as the motorcycle on which they were travelling was hit by a Hyva truck near Pingua locality under Nihalprasad police limits in Dhenkanal district. The four belonged to a family.

Identities of the deceased persons have not been ascertained yet. However, two of them were a couple and the others were their children, a senior cop of Nihalprasad police station said.

According to a source, the family members were on their way elsewhere in the district when they met with an accident leading to the deaths. A man and his wife died on the spot, and their children (a son and a daughter) died in a health facility while undergoing treatment in critical condition.

Some locals rescued the injured and rushed them to a nearby hospital for treatment, but the couple’s children could not be saved, a doctor treating them said.

On being informed by the locals, Nihalprasad police reached the spot and seized the two vehicles. Police have launched a probe to ascertain the reason behind the deaths.

“Driver of the Hyva truck fled from the spot soon after the road mishap,” the senior official added.