Three women were killed after a speeding car ran over them during their morning walk in the Rakesh Marg area under Sihani Gate police station limits on Saturday morning.
The collision was so intense that the victims were thrown several feet into the air. Two women died on the spot, while the third succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. A local resident was also injured in the incident.
According to police, the accident occurred after the driver allegedly dozed off behind the wheel. Eyewitnesses estimated the car’s speed to be around 100 km/h. The impact was so severe that the bonnet was nearly torn off when the car rammed into the road divider. The crash caused a massive traffic jam.
Police teams from Dial 112 and the Sihani Gate police station rushed to the spot shortly after the incident. The vehicle was identified as a white Toyota Glanza registered in Ghaziabad. The driver, Manjul, a resident of Nehru Nagar, is currently absconding. He was reportedly returning from Bulandshahr at the time of the crash. Initial investigations suggest that he fell asleep while driving. Police said he too sustained injuries.
The deceased women have been identified as Kamlesh (55), wife of Dayanand;Meenu Prajapati (56), wife of Bhakt Singh; Savitri (60), wife of Dariyab, all residents of New Kotgaon.
They were walking near a cut on Rakesh Marg when the speeding car hit them from behind. Another local resident, Vipin Sharma from Shyam Bihar Colony, was also injured.
Eyewitnesses said the car lost control after hitting the pedestrians and then crashed into the divider. Panic ensued as people screamed and rushed to help the victims. Some bystanders tried to catch the driver, but he managed to escape.
An elderly man at the scene recognised one of the victims as his tenant and helped confirm her identity. Kamlesh and Meenu died instantly, while Savitri succumbed during treatment. Vipin Sharma is currently undergoing medical care.
ACP Upasana Pandey confirmed the incident and said that a manhunt has been launched to arrest the accused driver.