Water tanker kills couple, newborn baby in fatal collision

A water tanker crushed a man and his pregnant wife to death in Karachi on Monday, causing the expectant mother to prematurely deliver the baby who also died minutes later. 

Abdul Qayum, 26, was taking his wife Zainab, 24, on a motorcycle for a medical checkup when a speeding water tanker hit the pair near Malir Halt. The couple was killed while Zainab delivered the baby in the aftermath of the collision. The premature baby did not survive past a few minutes. 

Enraged bystanders tried to set the tanker on fire but were stopped by law enforcing agencies. Police suspect that the tanker's brakes failed as it sped down the Malir Halt bridge at high speed. The driver and his helper have been arrested while the tanker has been impounded. 

Qayum's brother Mohammad Sohail told the media that the deceased couple got married one year earlier. The late Qayum had been working for Malir Cantonment Board and resided in Malir Cantt. 

At least 214 people have lost their lives in traffic incidents in Karachi in the past three months. At least 68 of these deaths have been a result of accidents involving heavy vehicles such as tankers and trailers.