Novice driver of ‘dowry car’ crushes 5-year-old in Ghaziabad

A five-year-old girl who was on her way to school was crushed by a novice car driver, suspected to be a minor, at Dasna in Ghaziabad early on Monday morning..

A five-year-old girl who was on her way to school was crushed by a novice car driver, suspected to be a minor, at Dasna in Ghaziabad early on Monday morning..

Residents damaged the car that was involved in the accident. (Left) Divya was on her way to school when she was hit by the speeding car in Dasna at Faridabad. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

The minor drove a brand new car which was yet to be registered. The car was offered as dowry to his elder brother on April 27.

The accused wanted to practice driving in the congested lanes of the locality. But he lost control and hit five-year-old Divya near NH-24 around 8 am, said police.

“After she was hit by the speeding car, her head hit a wall in the narrow lane. The impact crushed her head and she died immediately. The car also hit two other minors walking nearby,” said Divya’s father Satpal Singh.

He said they suspected there were two-three more boys in the car. “We could not identify them. The locals damaged the car and called up the police,” Singh said.

“The accused fled the spot leaving the car behind. His family members who are neighbours to the victim also fled their house,” said Ghaziabad superintendent of police Rakesh Kumar Pandey.

Divya’s body was sent for post mortem.

A complaint was lodged at Masuri police station. The victim’s family mentioned the age of the accused as over 18 years in the FIR, said the SP.

“We will ascertain his age once taken into custody. We have lodged an FIR and seized the car,” he said.

Police said a three-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy Bholu were injured in the accident. Bholu was rushed to a hospital, police added.