At least three persons were killed and five others sustained grievous injuries when a jeep by which they were travelling collided head-on with a truck at Khaliguda under the Chandil police station in Rayagada district on Wednesday morning.
According to reports, the accident took place at around 6 am when a newspaper-laden jeep was on its way to Gunupur from Rayagada. The ill-fated vehicle dashed against a speeding truck coming from opposite direction.
While a person died on the spot, others were critically injured and admitted to the Rayagada District Headquarters Hospital, where two more succumbed to their injuries, sources said.
The truck driver fled the spot with the vehicle after the incident, the sources added.
On being informed, police reached the spot and started investigation. Efforts were on to identify the truck and nab its driver.