Drink driving: Mercedes speeds through Delhi Police check post, rams car at KG Marg

The driver of Maruti Swift car that was allegedly hit by the Mercedes at KG Marg had to be hospitalised. It is the latest in a series of accidents in Delhi involving high-end cars and drunk drivers, some of which have led to fatalities

An allegedly drunk 19-year-old youth rammed a Mercedes car into another vehicle while trying to avoid a traffic check post in Delhi, police said on Saturday.

Delhi Police said the driver of the Mercedes and his co-passenger were allegedly under the influence of alcohol. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo)

The youth, identified as Dhruv Bagla, was arrested but released on bail.

The driver of the other vehicle suffered injuries, but he is out of danger, said police. Police identified him as Mahipal, who was on his way to the New Delhi railway station to pick up his employer Ajay Agarwal, a former director general of Tihar jail.

The accident is the latest in a series of incidents in Delhi involving high-end cars and drunk drivers, some of which have led to fatalities.

Maruti Swift car whose driver was injured in the accident.

BK Singh, DCP (New Delhi) said Bagla and and his co-passenger and friend Karan Jain, 20, were returning allegedly after having drinks at a pub in Connaught Place.

As the Mercedes turned towards KG Marg from Connaught Place, a traffic police team signalled the car to stop.

“The car initially slowed down, but sped away at the first opportunity,” said a policeman deployed at the checkpoint.

Bagla then allegedly tried to jump the red light, less than 100 metres from the picket, when he crashed into the Maruti Swift car.

The signboard knocked down by the Mercedes.

The Mercedes climbed the pavement and knocked down a signboard, before coming to a halt.

According to eyewitnesses, the Mercedes occupants escaped injuries as the safety air bags in vehicle deployed under the impact of the crash.

The DCP said a case has been registered against Bagla. Police said medical tests on Bagla and his friend confirmed they were drunk at the time of the accident.

Eyewitnesses said the two youths were barely able to talk and appeared to be heavily drunk. “One of them was crying while speaking to someone over the phone,” said an eyewitness.

Bagla was subsequently arrested, but released on bail. The son of a car dealer, Bagla is a student at a private university in NCR. His friend, Jain, is pursuing his education from a foreign university.

In March this year, a juvenile driving his father’s Mercedes knocked down a young executive in a highly publicised hit-and-run case in Delhi.

Official data show a sharp rise in road accidents in India – one every four minutes – and road crashes are identified as number one killer of young men and women.

Almost 97% of the road accidents are caused by rash or negligent driving including drink driving, the data show.