Teen killed as retd prof’s car hits 5 vehicles

A 15-year-old girl was killed and eight others were injured after a retired professor from Hansraj College of Delhi University lost control of his SUV and rammed five vehicles before coming to halt in outer Delhi’s Meera Bagh on Wednesday evening, the police said.

The deceased has been identified as Seema. The injured persons have been admitted to a private hospital, where two are said to be critical. The others sustained multiple fractures. The incident happened under the Vikaspuri flyover a little before 7 p.m.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Seju P. Kuruvilla said Professor (retd) Kamal Kumar Beharai was not drunk at the time of the incident. He claimed he lost control of the vehicle after pulling the handbrake while speeding.

The officer said the vehicle hit a bicycle, a scooter, a motorcycle and a cycle rickshaw before finally ramming a stationary minibus. An eyewitness said a loud bang drew his attention to the accident.

Mr. Kuruvilla said the exact circumstances of the accident, traffic violations and the vehicle’s speed are yet to be ascertained.

The eyewitness, however, said the car was speeding.

“We have seized the vehicle for examination and are also looking for CCTV footage,” the DCP said.