Keonjhar: A 42-year-old school principal and his wife were killed after a speeding truck allegedly rammed into their motorcycle on NH-20 near Dhurpada under Town police station limits in Keonjhar district on Wednesday.The deceased were identified as Kanhu Charan Mohanta (42) and his wife Janaki Mohanta (37) of Nuadihi village near Jagmohanpur under Telkoi police station limits. Kanhu was the principal of Raisuan Saraswati Sishu Mandir.Police said the couple was travelling to Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital, Keonjhar, for a health check-up when an trailer truck allegedly hit their motorcycle from behind. The impact threw both riders on to the road. Janaki was dragged for nearly 100 metres, and both died on the spot, police said.The couple is survived by their son, a Class VIII student.On receiving information, Town police reached the spot, seized the bodies and sent them to the district headquarters hospital for post-mortem. “Police have seized the motorcycle and launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident and identify the vehicle involved,” said Town police station IIC Srikanta Sahu.After post-mortem, bodies were handed over to the family. Efforts are underway to trace the truck, police added.Sources said road accidents continue to be a major concern in Keonjhar despite awareness campaigns and enforcement drives by the police and transport department. Poor road conditions and faulty road design are often cited as contributing factors.Official data show that the district recorded 456 road accidents between Jan and Aug this year, claiming 284 lives and leaving 375 people injured. The transport department and police have intensified checking drives across the district to curb traffic violations and reduce road fatalities.