Dhaka, Bangladesh—Three people died Thursday morning when a speeding passenger bus slammed into an autorickshaw on the outskirts of Dhaka. The collision occurred on a narrow section of the highway, leaving the smaller vehicle crushed beneath the front bumper of the bus. Local villagers arrived at the scene seconds after the impact to find the victims trapped inside the twisted metal.

The victims included two adults and a child who were traveling toward the city center. Paramedics declared all three dead at the scene due to the severity of the impact. The bus driver fled the area immediately after the crash, leaving the vehicle abandoned in the middle of the roadway.

Traffic halted for several kilometers as police cordoned off the site. Officers struggled to manage the crowd of onlookers while moving the wreckage to the shoulder of the road. The force of the collision pushed the autorickshaw nearly ten meters from the point of impact.

Local residents stated that the road is notorious for high-speed bus maneuvers despite the lack of proper shoulder space. They described the area as a dangerous zone where traffic enforcement is rarely seen. This incident is the second fatal crash on this stretch of highway this month.

Fire crews worked to extract the bodies from the wreckage, which was wedged tightly under the bus chassis. The recovery effort lasted nearly an hour, further delaying transport for commuters heading into the capital. Authorities have initiated a search for the driver who remains at large.

The bus has been impounded for a mechanical inspection to determine if brake failure played a role in the crash. Investigators are currently gathering statements from passengers who were on the bus at the time of the collision. Their accounts suggest the bus was traveling well above the posted speed limit.

Police have filed a preliminary case against the bus company for negligence and reckless operation. The families of the deceased are waiting for the bodies to be released from the local morgue. No arrests have been made as the search continues throughout the district.

Traffic flow resumed in a limited capacity by early afternoon. Officers remain on high alert at the site to prevent further incidents while the investigation proceeds. The government has yet to announce any formal action regarding road safety improvements for this particular highway route.