Car hits bicycle in Narela, leaves 3 dead, 7-month-old orphaned

IN HIS HURRY TO ESCAPE, THE DRIVER OF THE CAR HAD LEFT HIS VEHICLE’S NUMBER PLATE, THAT HAD COME OFF AFTER THE CRASH, BEHIND AT THE SPOT

A couple and their 10-year-old son, who were returning home after buying medicines for their daughter, were killed in outer Delhi’s Narela on Sunday after a speeding car hit them from behind.

Some eyewitnesses gave chase to the killer car after the incident but the errant driver managed to speed away with the vehicle.

The police, however, did not have to look far in order to identify the car and get to its owner.

In his hurry to escape, the driver of the car had left his vehicle’s registration plate, that had been undone and come off after the crash, behind at the accident spot.

The driver, identified as Shiv Kumar, was arrested on Sunday, a few hours after the accident and the silver colour Santro car seized.

The Sunday accident left seven-month-old daughter of the couple, Riddhi, orphaned.

As of Wednesday, Riddhi was being cared for by her maternal grandparents, with her uncle, Jagjeevan, telling HT that he and his wife would bring the girl up, along with two of their own daughters and a son at their native village in Uttar Pradesh.

Riddhi lived with her parents, Ram Sanjeevan and Sundara, and brother Mukesh in a rented flat in Narela’s Pocket-A. Natives of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, the couple worked in different factories in the area.

Having returned from work on Sunday, Sanjeevan realised that his daughter was unwell and needed medicines. “Sanjeevan left his home on a cycle to buy medicines. In the market, he met his wife and son and decided to return home with them on his bicycle,” said Sundara’s brother, Sharda Prasad.

With his son placed in the front and Sundara occupying the back seat, Sanjeevan pedalled home. But as the trio crossed Raja Harischandra Hospital, a speeding Santro car rammed the cycle from behind.

Sharda Prasad, who happened to be walking on the same road at that time, said that the couple and their son were thrown off the cycle onto a footpath nearby. “We rushed them to a hospital nearby, but the boy died on the way. His parents were later referred to Lok Nayak Hospital, but they too succumbed to their injuries a day later,” said Prasad.

The eyewitnesses, meanwhile, had collected broken parts of the car, including its number plate, from the accident spot and handed them over to the police when they arrived at the spot.

A case of causing death by negligence and rash and negligent driving was registered at Narela police station. The number plate of the vehicle led the police to the driver who was nabbed from his home in Narela some hours later has allegedly confessed to the crime.

He was arrested but later released on bail.