Five people were killed and two children sustained serious injuries after a private car rammed into the rear of a stationery truck on the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway in Faridpur's Bhanga upazila early Tuesday.

The deceased were identified as Nurjahan, 50, wife of Shahidul Islam of Ujjalpur village in Jhikargachha upazila of Jashore; her son Arif Islam, 24; Ayesha Begum, 28, wife of Ilias Hossain of the same village; Rakib, 18; and the unidentified driver of the private car, aged about 25.

The injured were identified as Ashraful Hossain, 7, and Tachfia, 3. All were travelling in the private car.

According to Shibchar Highway Police, the private car was heading to Jashore from Dhaka when it crashed into the truck parked on the roadside near Maligram Bus Stand around 4 am. 

Four people died on the spot while the injured were taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where Rakib later succumbed to his injuries, said Shibchar Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mizanur Rahman .

He said police and members of Bhanga Fire Service carried out a rescue operation after receiving news of the accident.

He said efforts are underway to identify the deceased driver, while the injured are undergoing treatment at Faridpur Medical College Hospital. 

The damaged truck and private car have been seized.

Bhanga Fire Service Station Manager Abu Zafar said rescuers had to cut through the mangled vehicle to recover the driver's body, as he was trapped inside following the collision.

Police and fire service officials said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.