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Accident raises concern over trucks

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Transport experts on Tuesday urged authorities to do more to prevent accidents involving overloaded trucks, following a fatal accident in Beijing in which a cyclist was buried alive.

Emergency services in Fengtai district were called out at about 6 am on Sunday when a heavy-duty vehicle carrying construction materials overturned while turning at an intersection.

Tons of soil spilled onto the street, entirely covering a female cyclist, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police had not released details of the victim or the driver of the truck as of Tuesday night.

However, experts said the tragedy puts the spotlight on accidents involving heavy-duty trucks, which have been all too common as China continues its massive urbanization drive.

"Despite the contribution made by the drivers of these trucks to urban construction and economic development, they have become a target of criticism in recent years due to their frequent traffic violations, serious pollution and the problems they have caused to communities," said Zhang Zhuting, a professor at the Transport Management Institute under the Ministry of Transport.

"It's a sad thing that an indispensable part of urban construction has become a killer."

He said accidents involving overloaded or speeding trucks often occur in the early morning or late at night, when supervision by traffic police can be less stringent.