Kanpur woman learner driver rams Thar into man's scooter, kills him on Diwali eve, flees

A 55-year-old scooter rider was killed after a speeding Mahindra Thar, allegedly driven by a woman learning to drive, rammed his vehicle in Kanpur on Saturday night, on the eve of Diwali. The impact was so severe that the man died on the spot, while the SUV went out of control, broke through the boundary wall of a residential property and crashed into a garden.

The victim was identified as Santosh Singh Chauhan. According to eyewitnesses, two women and a man were travelling in the Thar, with one of the women at the wheel.

The three occupants abandoned the damaged SUV after the crash and fled in another car that arrived at the spot shortly afterwards, police said.

ACCIDENT OCCURRED 500 METRES FROM VICTIM'S HOME

Santosh had left home on his scooter around 7:30 pm, carrying a saree for his wife. He had told his family that he would return shortly, his son Rahul Chauhan said.

However, the family soon received news of his death. The accident took place barely 500 metres from their residence.

Eyewitnesses said the SUV was speeding when it rammed into Santosh's scooter. The driver subsequently lost control, and the vehicle smashed through the boundary wall of Professor Kailash Chauhan's house before crashing into the boundary wall of an adjoining property.

The adjoining property belongs to GST Superintendent Anita Mahadevan, who is posted in Bengaluru.

Professor Kailash Chauhan said he rushed outside after hearing a loud crash. He claimed that two women and a man were inside the Thar and that one of the women was driving.

THAR OCCUPANTS FLEE AFTER CRASH

According to eyewitness accounts, all three occupants got out of the damaged SUV and left in another car that reached the spot soon after the accident. Santosh had died by then.

Police traced the registered owner of the Thar through its number plate. Preliminary information suggests that the vehicle belongs to Krishna Kumar, whose registered address is in Panka Bahadur Nagar, Panki.

A case has been registered in connection with the accident, and police have launched an investigation.

CCTV footage from nearby cameras is being examined to identify the three occupants and establish the route taken by the car in which they allegedly fled. Police are also recording eyewitness statements and verifying details obtained from the vehicle owner.

The identity of the woman allegedly driving the Thar and the circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be established.