DEHRADUN: Dehradun police have arrested the driver of a speeding Mercedes that mowed down four laborers on Rajpur Road yesterday, killing them on the spot. Two others, who were also hit, are undergoing treatment in hospital.
The driver who fled the scene of a hit-and-run incident was arrested on Thursday. Dehradun's Senior Superintendent of Police, Ajay Singh, ordered a thorough examination of CCTV footage from all roads leading away from the accident site upon arriving at the location. Based on this footage, the driver was subsequently apprehended.
Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh told this daily, "The accused has been identified as Vansh Katyal, a resident of Durga Mandir Wali Gali in Moradabad. After completing his BBA, he was living and working in Delhi but had come to Dehradun a short while ago in search of a job and was staying in a PG.
According to police investigations, "On Wednesday evening, Vansh Katyal went to a restaurant on Sahastradhara Road with his nephew. At his nephew's suggestion, he decided to go for a drive." The car involved in the incident is registered in the name of the accused's brother-in-law's father.
"While descending on Rajpur Road, he swerved to avoid hitting a scooter and ended up running over pedestrians," police officials stated. Following the incident, Vansh reached Sahastradhara Road, borrowed a scooter from an acquaintance, dropped his nephew home, returned the scooter, and then left for Delhi.
The situation on the capital's roads has become increasingly perilous, with out-of-control vehicles posing a grave threat to both other motorists and pedestrians. According to police statistics, "In the past year, there have been over 452 road accidents in Dehradun, resulting in approximately 167 fatalities, while 398 individuals sustained serious injuries."
A recent police investigation has revealed that over 90 percent of road accidents in the capital are attributed to drunk driving and reckless speeding.
Notably, most of these incidents occur at night on deserted and empty roads.
"Vehicles on Rajpur Road, GMS Road, Chakrata Road, Canal Road, Sahastradhara Road, and Haridwar Bypass reach terrifying speeds after dark," stated a police spokesperson. The rising trend of such dangerous driving practices has turned the city’s streets into a veritable danger zone for both drivers and pedestrians alike.