Khulna: A covered-van driver was killed and 14 police members were injured as the van collided with a microbus of Armed Police Battalion (APB) and plunged into a roadside ditch at Dumuria upazila of Khulna early on Tuesday.

Identity of the covered-van driver could not be known immediately.

Four injured were taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital while the others were admitted to Dumuria Upazila Health Complex.

Police said APB members were chasing the covered-van as they were previously informed that the van is carrying smuggling goods. Later, the police bus managed to overtake the van as the vehicles neared Chakundia. Meanwhile, the van hit the police bus from behind and both of the vehicles plunged into a roadside ditch at about 6:00am.

The Dumuria police officer-in-charge said three among the injured police members are in critical condition.

A witness said the covered-van driver was shot by the police while the police bus was chasing the van, thought police denied the allegation.