Panchkula: SUV ploughs into chemist shop, kills elderly owner, teen
Eyewitnesses, reported that a white Chandigarh-registered Mahindra XUV stopped in the market, and three to four young men exited the vehicle; one of the boys, attempted to start the car and the vehicle then suddenly accelerated, hitting a motorcycle before crashing into the chemist shop
A speeding SUV rammed into a chemist shop in Sector 2, near Majri Chowk, on Thursday afternoon, tragically claiming the lives of the 86-year-old shop owner and an 18-year-old boy.
The deceased have been identified as Daulat Ram Goyal, a resident of Sector 21, Panchkula, and Navjot Singh, who hailed from Kalyanpur village in Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh.
The impact of the collision left Daulat Ram’s leg severed and he succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.
Navjot, who was trapped under the vehicle, also died from his injuries despite being rushed to the hospital.
According to senior police officers, Navjot had arrived at the location with his maternal grandfather and other relatives for tea while on their way to Ramgarh village.
His maternal grandfather sustained injuries in the same incident. Police have seized CCTV footage from the scene and commenced a thorough investigation.
Eyewitnesses, including a local shopkeeper, reported that a white Chandigarh-registered Mahindra XUV stopped in the market, and three to four young men exited the vehicle.
Subsequently, one of the boys, who was initially seated in the back, moved to the driver’s seat and attempted to start the car. The vehicle then suddenly accelerated, hitting a motorcycle before crashing into the chemist shop.
While the other occupants of the car fled the scene, the car owner was apprehended by bystanders and handed over to the Sector-5 police station. He is currently being interrogated and police are seeking information about the other individuals involved.
Local shopkeepers and residents suspect that the boys were under the influence of alcohol, but police have stated that this will only be confirmed after a medical examination.
Formal proceedings to register a first information report (FIR) have been initiated.
Navjot, whose parents died a few years ago, was living with his maternal grandfather.
