Errant driver still at large, alcohol found in car
Four labourers were killed and four others, including a woman, suffered critical injuries when a speeding car ran over them in south Delhi when they were engaged in road repair work on Monday morning.
The driver of Honda City car, which allegedly rammed the labourers, has been identified as 22-year-old Shahid, a native of Alwar in Rajasthan. The accused has been pursuing MBBS from Ukraine and was in Delhi for vacations.
Police officials have stated that Shahid, along with his friends Shahzad (18) and Alam Khan (23), was returning from a party at Alam’s residence in Aula village in Mehrauli when the incident took place. Shahid, who was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol, lost control over the vehicle while descending from the Safdarjung flyover at around 2 am and ran over eight labourers, said the investigating officers.
The labourers who have been identified as Vikas Kumar (25), Joginder (21) and Lalbabu (26) died at the AIIMS trauma centre while Abhinandan (16) breathed his last at Safdarjung Hospital during treatment.
The injured are undergoing treatment at the Safdarjung and AIIMS hospitals, confirmed the police. The victims were repairing a part of the road leading to India Gate from INA market.
“The labourers were undertaking repair works on the road when the incident took place. The driver of the car fled from the spot soon after the incident leaving behind the vehicle and two friends, who were travelling with him,” said the police officers.
The investigating officers added that the two persons were questioned and they were helpful in identifying the driver. “We have not made any arrests yet,” said the police.
Meanwhile, two liquor bottles were recovered from the car, added the police.
Initial investigations suggested that the car was being driven at a speed of 130 kmph.
“Shahid lost control of the car when he swerved after failing to spot a barricade behind the spot where road leveling work was being done.
“The vehicle first ran into the divider and crushed labourers beneath it before coming to a stop after crashing into a tractor carrying construction material,” said the police. Such was the impact of the hit that the tractor was pushed 10 to 12 metres beyond the spot where it had been parked, added the police.
One of the labourers working at the site said they were busy with the repair job when the speeding car ran over the labourers. “There was a signboard erected there saying ‘Men at Work’. But it did not help us,” he said.
The incident has also highlighted the issue of safety of those working on the roads during nights, particularly when the chief minister Sheila Dikhsit has asked the agencies to work on a 24x7 basis to complete the Games projects.
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