India Truck Accident Leaves At Least 18 Dead In Southern State Of Andhra Pradesh

A truck overturned in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh early Monday, killing at least 18 workers and injuring 17 others. A preliminary investigation reportedly showed that the truck’s driver fell asleep while driving.

The accident occurred near Gundepalli, a village in eastern Andhra Pradesh, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing a police official. The truck was transporting the workers and construction material to a site 350 miles southeast of Andhra Pradesh’s capital Hyderabad.

India leads the world in road accident deaths, according to the World Health Organization. Over 110,000 people die every year in road accidents across India, AP reported, citing police. Most road accidents occur due to rash driving, poorly maintained roads and old vehicles.

Last month, at least five people were killed and 25 injured after a truck collided with a train in Andhra Pradesh. The accident occurred about 2:30 a.m. local time, (5 p.m. EDT) at a railroad crossing in the northeastern district of Anantapur, when a truck carrying granite boulders sped onto the tracks.