Lucknow witnessed a tragic accident on Thursday evening when a 21-year-old Class 12 student, Gaurav Singh, lost control of his speeding car after returning from a farewell party. The car first struck a parked motorcycle and then ran over multiple pedestrians, leaving a six-year-old boy dead and four others injured.
The incident occurred around 6:00 pm, a time when the streets were busy with local traffic. CCTV footage later revealed the sequence of events leading to the tragedy. According to eyewitness accounts and recordings, the car first collided with a parked two-wheeler on which a man was seated. The impact caused the man to fall, and the car subsequently veered uncontrollably towards the roadside.
Several pedestrians, including Armaan, Sadhana Patel, her mother Meena Devi, and Sadhana’s six-year-old son Dikshant, were hit. The vehicle then struck an e-rickshaw and an auto, injuring the e-rickshaw driver, Awadh Bihari. Panicked by the chaos, the student and his friend abandoned the vehicle after a tire burst and fled the scene. Local residents quickly rushed the injured to a private hospital and alerted the police.
Tragically, Dikshant, who was studying in Class 2 at Kendriya Vidyalaya, succumbed to his injuries after being referred to the Community Health Centre. The other injured individuals are currently receiving medical treatment. Lucknow ACP Rajnish Verma confirmed that the families of the injured were informed promptly and that police are reviewing CCTV footage to piece together the incident. An FIR will be registered based on complaints from the victims’ families.
Following the incident, police managed to seize the vehicle and arrest Gaurav Singh, who initially fled the scene. Authorities are examining the circumstances leading to the accident, including the car’s speed, possible negligence, and the driver’s behavior after the collision. Police have appealed to witnesses to come forward, emphasizing the importance of CCTV footage in reconstructing the accident.
The incident has shaken local residents, highlighting concerns about reckless driving in the city. Parents, in particular, have expressed fear for the safety of children in crowded areas during evening hours. “This is heartbreaking. A small child lost his life because of careless driving,” said a local resident. Many are demanding stricter traffic enforcement and awareness campaigns to prevent such tragedies.
The accident serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of reckless driving and the urgent need for responsible behavior on roads, particularly in populated urban areas.