Three people, including a woman, were killed and five others injured when a passenger van struck a stationary trailer on the M-5 motorway near Ghotki on Saturday, police said.
The collision took place in the Ghotki area of Sindh. Police said the dead and the injured were taken to Taluka Hospital for treatment and medico-legal formalities.
According to police, the family travelling in the van hailed from Khan Bela and Rahim Yar Khan. They were travelling from Karachi to Rahim Yar Khan while transporting the body of a deceased relative.
Police said the van driver had fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to run into the trailer parked by the roadside. The force of the impact killed three passengers, while five others suffered injuries.
Rescue teams and motorway police reached the scene soon after the accident and moved the injured to hospital. Police said the condition of some of the injured was being assessed by doctors.
The crash is the latest in a series of deadly road accidents on Pakistan’s motorways and highways, where driver fatigue and heavy vehicles parked on carriageways are recurring causes of fatal collisions. Police have urged drivers, particularly those on long intercity journeys, to take rest breaks and avoid driving when drowsy.
An investigation into the exact circumstances of the collision is under way, police added.
