5 killed as speeding SUV collides with tractor in MP
What's the story
A tragic accident on the Gwalior-Jhansi highway in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday left five people dead. The incident occurred around 6:00am near Malwa College, about 20km from the Gwalior district headquarters, Hindustan Times reported. A speeding Fortuner SUV rammed into a sand-laden tractor-trolley, killing all occupants instantly. The deceased were identified as Kshitij alias Prince Rajawat, Kaushal Bhadoria, Aditya Pratap Singh Jadon, Abhimanyu Singh, and Shivam Rajpurohit, all in their early twenties and residents of Gwalior.
Victims' background
SUV driver identified as Umesh Rajawat's son
The SUV was owned by property dealer Umesh Rajawat of Gwalior. His son, Prince Rajawat, was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. The group was returning from a birthday party in Jhansi when the collision happened. Police superintendent Nagendra Singh Sikarwar was quoted as saying, "The collision was so severe that half of the Fortuner was crushed under the trolley."
Ongoing investigation
Investigation underway, tractor driver absconding
The bodies were extricated from the wreckage with cutting tools and sent for post-mortem examination. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of this tragic accident. The tractor driver is currently absconding, but his contact number has been obtained by the authorities. Police are probing factors such as speeding, road conditions, and possible negligence in this case.
Scene description
Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scene
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene after the accident, which temporarily disrupted traffic on the highway. Local villagers assisted police and emergency services in rescue operations. DSP Sikarwar noted that "a vehicle like the Fortuner cannot be easily crashed to an unrecognizable degree," indicating high-speed driving at over 120km/h. The crash was so intense that even airbags couldn't save the occupants.