14-year-old schoolboy dies in accident in Kollam

A 14-year-old boy lost his life after being run over by a truck near Palkulangara in Kollam on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Salman Faris, a Class IX student and resident of Ayathil. He was riding pillion on a scooter his mother was riding. The police said the accident occurred when the rider attempted to overtake the truck. Their vehicle clipped another oncoming two-wheeler, causing the mother to lose control of the scooter. The impact threw both riders in opposite directions, with the mother falling to the safer side of the road while Salman was thrown directly under the wheels of the heavy vehicle. The truck ran over the boy, killing him on the spot. The ongoing national highway development work has led to regular traffic diversions through narrower, alternative routes . According to local residents, the accident took place on a highly congested stretch that lacks adequate width for safe two-way traffic.