Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 19 Aug: A tragic road accident occurred this morning near the well-known Manimai temple in Doiwala, claiming four lives and leaving three others seriously injured. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, while police took the bodies of the deceased into custody and sent them for post-mortem. Investigations into the incident are underway.
The driver of the pickup vehicle has reportedly fled after the accident and according to the police, efforts are on to trace and arrest him. The accident took place when the rear wheel of a pickup truck ahead suddenly came off, causing the vehicle to lose control and mount the divider. At that moment, a Maruti Eeco, bearing registration No HR-12-A-8730 and speeding from behind, also went out of control and rammed directly into the pickup. The impact was so severe that the Eeco was mangled beyond recognition. Two passengers seated in the front of the van died on the spot, while five others sustained critical injuries. Later, two of those injured also succumbed to injuries. The Police, with the help of 108 services, shifted the injured to hospitals where their condition remains precarious.
The collision led to a massive traffic jam near the toll plaza on the Haridwar-Dehradun highway, disrupting movement for nearly an hour. Police later cleared the road with the help of a crane. The pickup driver fled the scene after the accident. A case has been registered and investigations have been intensified.
Confirming the incident, S. I. Narayan Vyas of Kotwali stated that seven persons were travelling in the Eeco. Three of the critically injured were admitted to CSC Doiwala, where two succumbed to injuries. Two were referred to Himalayan Hospital, while the others have been admitted to Kailash Hospital in Dehradun for treatment. Two of the four deceased had been identified as Naresh (aged 42, son of Mahavir, resident of Rohtak, Haryana) and Vinod. Efforts are on to identify remaining deceased persons. At the same time, two of the three injured have been identified as Vipendra from Haryana and Vikki from UP at the time of filing of the report.
