JOIN USA cyclist and two pedestrians were mowed down by a speeding truck near a traffic signal in east Delhi’s New Usmanpur, which sparked violent protest by area residents, police said on Sunday.
The driver fled from the spot. One victim’s body was dragged by the speeding vehicle for a few metres before it came to a halt on Saturday night, said police.
The deceased were identified as Ram Mohan, 33, Raj Bahadur, 19, and Hari Om, 23, said a police official, adding that the driver apparently lost control over the vehicle due to high speed. Two of the victims died on the spot. Raj Bahadur and Hari Om were neighbours and worked as salesmen at a saree showroom in Chandni Chowk in north Delhi while Ram Mohan was a milkman.
“Raj Bahadur and Hari Om were returning home on a cycle and were standing at the traffic signal. Ram Mohan was also standing at the signal. They were waiting for green signal in the traffic light to cross the road when a speeding truck crushed them,” said a police official.
The driver of the truck escaped from the spot, police said, adding that the vehicle was impounded. Police said the local residents initially tried to help the victims by calling the police control room but as the crowd starting building up some people started pelting stones at the truck.
“A few protesters also blocked traffic for some time on the busy highway,” said a police official.
Soon after the incident the lone surviving victim was taken to Jagparvesh Hospital by police. “One of the victim whose condition deteriorated due to excessive bleeding was later shifted to GTB Hospital,” said a police official.
Teams have been sent to question the registered address of the owner of the truck to identify the errant driver, he said. “CCTV footage of the area is also being scanned to rebuild the entire sequence of the events,” he said.