A 25-year-old youth, Pankaj Kumar Rai, died in Samastipur on Monday night after a speeding TOTO rickshaw collided with his motorcycle. Pankaj, son of Shivchandra Rai from Rampur Bishun Ward-6, was returning home from work when the accident occurred in the Warisnagar police station area.

According to his father, Shivchandra Rai, Pankaj worked as a laborer in Kishanpur to support his family. On Monday night, after finishing work, he was riding his bike back home. Near his village, a TOTO hit his motorcycle, causing him to fall and sustain severe injuries. It is alleged that the TOTO driver fled the scene, leaving Pankaj critically injured on the road, and also took his mobile phone and money. His family was informed and rushed him to the hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries on the way.

Pankaj was the sole earning member of his family, which includes three daughters and a son. His mother had passed away on March 10 this year due due to illness. His untimely death has left the family in deep sorrow and facing severe financial hardship. His grandfather, Shivchandra Rai, now bears the responsibility of raising the four children.

Sadar DSP-2 Sanjay Kumar confirmed the death in the road accident and stated that the TOTO driver fled with the vehicle. The process of filing an FIR is underway. Police have taken the body into custody and sent it to Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination on Tuesday morning. Investigations are ongoing.