Rajkot: Tragedy struck a group of friends, who were going on foot to offer prayers at a temple, as they were crushed to death, near Jamnagar city on Tuesday.
The four had set out on foot from their native Sonvadiya village of Jamjodhpur taluka to go to Macchhu Maa temple to offer prayers after fulfilment of some vow.
When they were walking on the road near Morkanda village, a speeding pick-up van crashed into them from behind, 12 km from Jamnagar city sometime around 10am.
The deceased were identified as Bhoja Chirodiya (55), Parbat Gamara (37), Kishore Rada (18) and Arjan alias Kava Parmar (38). Chirodiya and Gamara died on the spot while two others died at Jamnagar’s GG Hospital.
CM Kateliya, sub-inspector, Panchkosi police station said the driver had abandoned the SUV pick-up van at the spot of the accident and fled. However, he was nabbed in the evening and detained.