In a road accident, nine members of a family, including four women and three children aged between 2 and 8 years, were killed while five others were critically injured when a speeding vehicle hit the car in which they were travelling in Pilkhua area of Ghaziabad today.
Police said that all 14 family members were returning home in their Eeco car after taking a holy bath in the Ganga river on the occasion of Amavasya.
The condition of all the injured are said to be critical.
The deceased have been identified as Harbeer (37), Sheila (34), Geeta (48), Mukesh (50), Priyanka (24), Rinki (23), Lavi (5), Chanchal (8) and Chahat (2) while injured have been identified as Vijay (22), Yash (2), Vansh (4), Gaurav (3) and Savita (10).
"The incident took place around 4 AM this morning when all family members were returning home. When their car reached near Chijarsi Police Post of Pilakhua area, a speeding vehicle hit their car and fled the spot," said Deputy Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar Singh.
Singh also said that police are yet to identify "the killer vehicle" as no eyewitnesses have so far come forward and the injured are still not in a condition to brief about the incident.
However, police said that the as per preliminary investigation, it appears that a speeding truck or some other heavy vehicle may have hit car.
Police said that the impact of collision was such that nine persons of Harbeer's family died on the spot, adding that the condition of all injured are said to be critical.
"A case has been registered against unknown persons at Pilakhua police station and police would soon arrest the driver of the "killer vehicle"," the DSP said.
Meanwhile, three persons were also killed in two separate road accident in Ghaziabad.
In the first incident, Hassan and his friend Tomar Bhardwaj were killed when a bike on which they were riding on, was hit by a speeding truck.
Police said that the incident took place last night near Lal Kuan area of Ghaziabad, adding that police have arrested the truck driver and registered an FIR against him at Kavi Nagar police station.
In the second incident, a 45-year-old woman, who along with his son was going to Delhi, died after a bike she was riding on, was also hit by a speeding truck.
