Speeding luxury car kills four

Four labourers, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed and other four grievously injured when a speeding Honda City crushed them in an accident on early Monday. See graphics

Four labourers, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed and other four grievously injured when a speeding Honda City crushed them in an accident on early Monday. See graphics

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The car, driven by a medical student who was allegedly drunk, hit them on the Safdurjung flyover at 1 a.m.

The incident holds a stark resemblance to the Sanjeev Nanda case in 2001 when six men were run over by a speeding BMW car at Lodhi Road, just two kilometres from the Sunday night accident spot.

Police said the victims were labourers repairing a damaged section of the road leading to India Gate from the INA market.

According to police, the accused Shahid Khan (25), Shahzad (18) and Alam Khan (23) were returning from a party at Alam’s house at Aula Village in Mehrauli and decided to go on a joyride when the accident took place.

While Shahid, a resident of Alwar, Rajasthan, is studying to be a doctor from a university in Ukraine, Shahzad is a Class XII student. Alam Khan, son of a builder, works for an event management company in south Delhi, the police said.

Police said Shahid Khan was driving the car when it met with an accident. Khan is on the run but the police have detained the other two occupants of the car.

“Initial investigation suggests that the vehicle was at a speed of 130 kmph. Shahid lost control when the car swerved after failing to spot a barricade behind the spot where road levelling work was being done,” a senior police officer said.

The errant vehicle, zooming away at the blinding speed 130 kmph, first ran into the barricade before crushing 12 labourers.

It came to a stop only after crashing into a stationary tractor laden with construction material.

“Such was the impact of the hit that the tractor, which was carrying a huge mound of cement, was pushed a good 10 to 12 metres from where it was parked,” the officer added.

Police said six of the injured were rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre and two to Safdurjung Hospital.

“Vikas Kumar (25), Joginder (21) and Lalbabu (26) died at the Trauma Centre at AIIMS and Abhinandan (14) at the Safdarjung Hospital around 4:30 on Monday morning,” the officer said.

Police said a case of rash and negligent driving and causing death due to negligence has been registered at the Lodhi Colony Police Station.

“Shahid had fled from the scene after the accident. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend him,” said H.G.S Dhaliwal, DCP (south).