Jalandhar: Three young men were killed after a speeding car rammed into a stationary Canter on a highway in Jalandhar early Saturday morning. The accident took place at around 6 am near Bhagat Singh Colony in the Maksudan area, close to Bal Hospital.
According to police, the car was travelling from Jalandhar towards Amritsar when it slammed into the Canter parked on the roadside. The collision was so severe that the car was extensively damaged, with its roof torn apart and the number plate thrown away from the vehicle.
All three occupants died in the crash.
Two victims trapped inside car
The impact left two of the victims trapped in the front portion of the vehicle. Rescue personnel and police had to make considerable efforts to remove the bodies from the wreckage.
The third occupant, who was reportedly travelling in the rear seat, was thrown onto the road following the collision.
The airbags of the car had deployed, but the force of the impact proved fatal. The bodies were subsequently shifted to the Civil Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
Victims yet to be identified
Police have not yet formally identified the deceased. However, investigators traced the vehicle’s registration details to the Lamme Pind/Randhawa area and are contacting the families of the occupants.
SHO Rakesh Kumar said the circumstances surrounding the Canter’s presence on the highway are also being investigated.
Canter driver missing
Police suspect that the Canter driver may have parked the heavy vehicle on the highway and subsequently left the spot. Officials are examining whether the vehicle had been left there because of a navigation issue or whether the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol.
The driver reportedly fled after the crash and has not yet been located.
Police have begun examining CCTV footage from nearby locations and are using the Canter’s registration details to trace its driver.
An investigation is underway to establish the exact sequence of events, including the speed of the car and why the Canter was left on the highway.
