Five members of a single family tragically lost their lives, and five others, including an autorickshaw driver, were critically injured in Gwalior’s Thatipur area early on Friday morning. The incident occurred when a speeding Mahindra Scorpio collided with their overloaded three-wheeler near the Jain temple close to the Parshuram intersection around 3 AM. The family, consisting of nine members, was returning home after visiting the Sheetla Mata temple near the bus stand when the SUV crashed into their vehicle with great force.
The collision was so severe that the autorickshaw was briefly airborne before crashing into a neem tree at the roadside, leaving the passengers with little chance to escape. The deceased individuals have been identified as Shubham alias Lali (30), his wife Shagun, Indrajit alias Pappu Shakya (55), Leela (52), and Preeti (60) from Meerut. Among the injured are Preeti (20), Shubham’s younger relative, his two sons Priyansh (5) and Aarav (6), and another family member. The autorickshaw driver also suffered severe head injuries and is in critical condition.
All the injured individuals have been taken to the trauma center for medical treatment. Authorities revealed that the SUV driver was driving recklessly and had previously collided with another car near the bus stand. Despite efforts by a police patrol to stop the vehicle, the SUV continued at a high speed, eventually crashing into the autorickshaw and then a tree. The driver, the only person in the SUV, attempted to flee but was caught by local residents and handed over to the police.
City Superintendent of Police, Atul Kumar Soni, confirmed that the accident resulted from reckless and negligent driving. A case has been filed against the driver, and investigations are ongoing to determine if intoxication or excessive speed played a role in the crash. Post-mortem examinations of the deceased have commenced. The tragic incident has deeply affected residents of Suresh Nagar, Thatipur, and Murar, prompting concerns about the enforcement of traffic regulations, especially concerning overloaded autorickshaws and dangerous night driving near temples and busy intersections.
