A 12-year-old Class 6 student was killed after a speeding truck ran her over in Gunderdehi village of Chhattisgarh’s Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district, triggering a dramatic 55-km police chase in which the driver allegedly kept breaking barricades to escape arrest.

The victim, identified as Poonam, was standing by the roadside when the truck hit her on Friday morning. Police said the driver, identified as Devi Singh from Uttar Pradesh, appeared to be heavily intoxicated and fled the scene in a desperate attempt to avoid being caught.

What followed was a high-speed chase that moved through multiple police checkpoints. Officers first tried to stop the truck in the Mohla area, but the driver rammed through the barricades and sped away. A second blockade near Manpur was also broken through, and police personnel narrowly escaped being hit in the process.

According to police, the truck was moving at around 120 kmph during the escape. The driver reportedly showed no sign of slowing down, even as teams from several police stations joined the pursuit. The chase created panic on the highway, with motorists and bystanders watching the vehicle tear through barricades and flee ahead of the police convoy.

The pursuit finally ended near Korkoti, between the Manpur and Kohka police station limits, when the truck went out of control and veered off the road into a roadside ditch. Police then overpowered the driver and took him into custody. He also suffered injuries during the crash and was taken to Manpur hospital for treatment.

Poonam’s death sparked anger in Gunderdehi village. Residents placed her body on the road and blocked traffic, demanding strict action against the accused driver and justice for the family. The protest brought movement on the stretch to a halt until senior administrative and police officers reached the spot and held talks with villagers.

The officials assured the crowd that action would be taken, after which the blockade was withdrawn. The body was later sent to Ambagarh Chowki hospital for post-mortem.

Police are now examining the circumstances of the crash, the driver’s alleged drunken condition, and the sequence of barricade breaches during the escape. Officers said the viral video of the chase is also being reviewed as part of the investigation.

The incident has once again raised concerns about drunken driving, highway safety and the risks police face during vehicle checks on busy routes. Locals said the case should send a strong message, especially when a child has lost her life and officers had to risk being run over while stopping the accused.