23-year-old killed as stray causes car crash on flyover

MOHALI: A 23-old-youth was killed and his two friends injured after their vehicle hit a divider while avoiding a stray animal on Zirakpur flyover in the early hours of Friday.

The victim has been identified as Ravindar Verma, 23, who hails from Shimla and was residing in Sector 40 B, Chandigarh, with his family. Police said he was preparing for competitive exams to secure a government job. His father was posted in ITBP at Uttarakhand.

His friends were identified as Karan Ranbir Singh, 27, a resident of Sector 38 B, Chandigarh, and Javinder Singh, 28, a resident of Zirakpur. Police said Karan Ranbir Singh was driving the Mahindra XUV and the victim was seated next to him. The three friends were going to Zirakpur to drop one of them when the accident took place ahead of the point where traffic from Panchkula and Chandigarh merge around 4.30 am.

Relatives said they were on way to drop Javinder Singh after visiting civil hospital in Sector 22, Chandigarh, where his newborn daughter was under treatment. Police said when they crossed the point where the traffic from Panchkula and Chandigarh merge, a stray animal suddenly came in front of their vehicle and they lost control over the XUV while trying to save the animal. They first rammed into a divider, then a pole and the flyover wall finally. Source said a passer-by took them to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. Source said the victim died on the spot, while Karan Ranbir Singh received a head injury and Javinder Singh a fracture.

Assistant sub-inspector Baljeet Singh, the investigating officer, said, “They lost control over the vehicle while trying to save the animal.” “After recording the statement of victim’s family members, we initiated proceedings under Section 174 of CrPC,” he said.