Five members of a family were killed, and four others were seriously injured when a speeding SUV, being chased by police, rammed into an autorickshaw ferrying the nine family members in the wee hours of Friday in Gwalior.
Police officials said the accident occurred around 2.50 am at Parshuram Chauraha when the victims were returning from the Sheetla Mata temple on the occasion of Ram Navami.
All of them were travelling in an autorickshaw when the speeding SUV crashed into it.
Police said they were chasing the SUV after it hit an e-rickshaw at another location, and the driver attempted to flee the scene.
Due to the SUV’s high impact, the autorickshaw rammed into a tree and was severely mangled. All its occupants got trapped inside and sustained severe injuries.
The police and public rushed to the spot, rescued the injured, and rushed them to a hospital.
Doctors at the hospital declared four people dead on arrival, while another succumbed to injuries during treatment.
The deceased were identified as Indrajeet Shakya (55), his wife Leela (52), Shubham Kashyap (30), his wife Shagun (25) – all local residents — and their relative Pinky Kashyap (60), who hailed from Meerut.
The injured were identified as Preeti (20), Priyansh (5), Aarav (6) and auto driver Rajesh Kumar (28), the police said.
Gwalior IG Arvind Saxena said the police have arrested the SUV driver, identified as Aman Sharma (26), and impounded his vehicle.
The official said that Aman has been booked on charges of rash and negligent driving, causing loss of life and injuries to others.