Gwalior, March 27 – Five members of a single family died and five people, including an auto-rickshaw driver, were critically injured when a speeding Mahindra Scorpio collided with their overloaded three-wheeler in the Thatipur area of Gwalior early Friday morning.
The accident occurred around 3 AM near the Jain temple, just before the Parshuram intersection. The family of nine had been returning home after offering prayers at the Sheetla Mata temple near the bus stand when the SUV struck their vehicle with considerable force.
The impact was so strong that the auto-rickshaw was airborne for a few seconds before crashing into a neem tree by the side of the road, leaving the passengers with little chance to escape.
The deceased have been identified as Shubham alias Lali (30), son of Mahesh Shakya; his wife Shagun; Indrajit alias Pappu Shakya (55), Shubham’s paternal uncle; Leela (52), Indrajit’s wife; and Preeti (60), Shubham’s mother-in-law from Meerut. Among the injured are Preeti (20), Shubham’s younger relative; his two sons, Priyansh (5) and Aarav (6); and another family member.
The auto-rickshaw driver also sustained severe head injuries and remains in critical condition.
All the injured have been admitted to the trauma center for treatment.
Police said the SUV driver had been driving recklessly and had previously collided with another car near the bus stand. Despite attempts by a police patrol to intercept the vehicle, the SUV continued at high speed before crashing into the auto-rickshaw and eventually a tree.
The driver, the sole occupant of the SUV, tried to flee but was apprehended by local residents and handed over to the police.
City Superintendent of Police, Atul Kumar Soni, confirmed that the accident was caused by reckless and negligent driving.
A case has been registered against the driver, and investigations are underway to determine whether intoxication or excessive speed contributed to the crash.
Post-mortem examinations of the deceased have begun. The tragedy has shaken residents of Suresh Nagar, Thatipur, and Murar, with many questioning the lax enforcement of traffic rules, particularly regarding overloaded auto-rickshaws and reckless night driving near temples and busy intersections.