A man was crushed to death and three men were critically injured when a speeding car driven by a Class 12 student of Delhi Public School (DPS) ran over a group of homeless people sleeping on a pavement here, police said.
Samarath Chugh, 18, who lives in Model Town in north Delhi, reportedly dragged two of the four men under the Hyundai i20 car he was driving for an early morning joyride with his friends Ujwal Goel and Bhayva.
The incident took place near Kashmere Gate Inter-State Bus Terminus at 5.45 a.m. as he lost control of the car due to its speed while negotiating a right turn near the Nigambodh Ghat crematorium.
The car then mounted a pavement near the Hanuman Mandir where at least six people were sleeping, police said. The pavement is always full of homeless people including children.
As the driver realized he had ran over a group of people, he moved the car back and forth several times in a bid to escape, crushing one of the victims to death, police said, citing witnesses.
The identity of the deceased was not known. The three critically injured and warded at the Sushruta Trauma Centre were identified as Asif, Karan and Sanjay. All four appeared to be labourers, police said.
A senior police officer, sharing preliminary investigation details with IANS, said it appeared that Chugh, who comes from a business family, was driving at over 100 kmph and did not carry a driving licence.
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His blood sample has been sent to know if he was drunk at the time of the accident.
The officer said he was overpowered by onlookers after the early morning tragedy but two others in the car, allegedly owned by Ujwal's father, also a businessman, escaped.
Police have charged the teen driver with culpable homicide and causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others. According to his school certificate, Chugh turned 18 on March 15.
"We have registered a case against him under Section 304 of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder)," Deputy Commissioner of Police Jatin Narwal told IANS.
Narwal said Chugh has told police that he and his friends were going to their school. But since they were in track suits, it appears they were on a joyride to celebrate the end of Class 12 exams.
No charges have been registered against Ujwal and Bhavya. Chugh was later sent into 14 day judicial custody.
--IANS
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