New Delhi: Six youths, including three women, were killed in a collision with a speeding truck at ONGC Chowk in Dehradun in the early hours of Tuesday. The MUV in which they were traveling collided with a container truck, resulting in damage to the vehicle.
The sole survivor, 25-year-old Siddhesh Agarwal, is stable but cannot speak.
Last moments of seven friends
The victims, aged between 19 and 24, include Guneet Singh, Kamakshi Singhal, Navya Goyal, Rishabh Jain, Atul Aggarwal and Kunal Kukreja. They were returning from a party organized by Siddhesh at his residence.
After the gathering, the group decides to go on a late night drive, which ends in a fatal accident.
At around 1:30 am, the MUV, reportedly at a speed of more than 100 km/hr, reached near the busy ONGC Chowk.
CCTV footage shows the MUV traveling at a speed of over 100 km/hr and attempting to overtake a luxury car before misjudging the distance and colliding with the truck. The collision was so severe that the roof of the MUV was blown off and six people died on the spot.
Three of the dead were students of a private university and one was an engineering graduate.
‘Non-functional CCTV’
The exact details of the accident remain partially unclear due to non-functional CCTV cameras at ONGC Chowk, offline after the ransomware attack. Dehradun Smart City Limited (DSCL) confirmed that out of 536 cameras in the city, 134 are not working, one of which is crucial to the case.
Local officials and police cited the group’s excessive speed as the primary cause of the accident. The container truck driver fled the scene, although authorities believe he was not at fault.
Police investigation also revealed that the MUV was being driven recklessly ignoring traffic norms, as seen in many young drivers in the area.
Read more: ‘Non-functional CCTV’ hampering investigation into fatal Dehradun accident; FIR against unknown person
The only survivor is stable but cannot speak
Police are consulting legal experts to determine the possible course of action in the tragic car accident in which six young people, including three women, lost their lives and left one survivor, Siddhesh Aggarwal, seriously injured.
Siddhesh, the sole survivor, is currently hospitalized with serious head injuries and is unable to give a statement.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident occurred when a speeding multi-utility vehicle (MUV) collided with the rear left side of a container truck, which had a blind spot for large commercial vehicles. Officials have found no fault on the part of the truck driver.
Complicating the legal process, the owner of the car who was driving at the time of the accident also lost his life in the incident. Since no complaint has been received from the victims’ families, the police are exploring legal options.
What was revealed in the investigation
According to preliminary investigation, the MUV, possibly a new vehicle without a number plate, was going from Ballupur Chowk towards Garhi Cantt when a luxury car overtook it at a high speed.
In an attempt to catch up, the MUV driver increased his speed. Meanwhile, a container truck was crossing the intersection at a steady speed.
Misjudging the timing, the MUV driver thought he could clear the intersection before the truck passed. However, the speeding MUV collided with the rear of the truck, resulting in a fatal accident.
Citizens have urged authorities to increase patrolling
In the wake of the accident, citizens are urging authorities to increase patrolling near pubs and bars and set up more checkpoints to prevent drunk driving.
“There should be strict penalties for violators, regardless of their status or influence. Authorities should take steps against speeding, ensure use of helmets and address the problem of multiple riders on two-wheelers. Radha Chatterjee, a member of the Citizens Forum, said pub and club owners should also be held responsible if intoxicated patrons leave their premises and attempt to drive away.
The forum has also advocated the introduction of ‘designated drivers’ in Dehradun and has formally written to the Director General of Police urging immediate adoption of these safety measures to prevent further accidents.
In response to public pressure, the administration has taken some steps to improve security. The liquor license of a five-star hotel on Mussoorie Road, which was extended to allow 24-hour service, has now been reverted to its original schedule.