Pavement dweller crushed to death by DPS student

3 others critical; accused had turned 18 just five days ago

In yet another incident involving students driving in a negligent manner, a 27-year-old homeless man’s life was snubbed out and three others were critically injured.

The horrific accident took place on Thursday morning when a speeding car, allegedly driven by a Class 12 student, lost control and climbed onto a pavement at Yamuna Bazar railway underpass in North Delhi and ran over the people sleeping on the footpath. The accused had turned 18 just five days ago.

Preliminary probe reveals that the driver allegedly dragged two of the four men under his father’s i20 car. Upon realising that the men were under his wheels, the accused tried to flee. In so doing, he further crushed the people by reversing the car.

The accident took place around 5.45 am at the Yamuna Bazar railway underpass near the Nigam Bodh Ghat crematorium on the stretch leading towards ITO from Kashmere Gate.

The police said that three students were present in the car.

Samarth Chugh (18), a commerce student from Delhi Public School (DPS), who was behind the wheels, was arrested immediately from the spot.

His two classmates, Ujjwal Goyal and Bhawya Rajpal, managed to flee. However, they were apprehended later.

According to a senior police officer, the driver doesn’t have a driving licence.

A medical examination was conducted on Chugh to find out whether he was driving under the influence of alcohol.

A senior police officer said, “The accused driver has been charged under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).”

Chug was later produced before a city court that sent him to judicial custody till May 4.

According to the police, the accused allegedly said in his statement that he has a medical condition and suffers from epilepsy. He wasn’t allowed to ride a motorcycle by his parents due to his condition.

The injured were taken to the Sushruta Trauma Centre where they are undergoing treatment. The men were identified as Asif (30), Karan (26), and Sanjay (28).

They all worked as labourers during the day and slept on the pavements during the night.