Three friends killed in flyover crash on return journey from Ladakh
Jaipur, March 20, KNT: Three young men in their 20s were killed after their car crashed into a divider and plunged nearly 30 feet off a flyover on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan’s Dausa district on Wednesday, police said.
The accident occurred when the victims were returning to Pune after a road trip to Jammu and Leh–Ladakh along with a group of friends.
The incident highlights concerns over highway safety and driver fatigue on long-distance routes, particularly on high-speed expressways where a momentary lapse can prove fatal.
According to police, the group initially comprised 12 people who had left Pune on February 26 in three vehicles for a trip to the mountains. One person had returned earlier, while another travelled separately, leaving 10 individuals in three cars for the return journey.
The group had halted overnight in Dausa before resuming their journey on Wednesday morning.
Senior police officer Manoj Sikarwar said the accident took place when one of the vehicles, a Toyota Fortuner, went out of control.
“The vehicle hit the divider and fell nearly 30 feet from the flyover. Prima facie, the driver may have dozed off,” Sikarwar said.
The impact of the crash was severe, leaving the SUV completely mangled and causing critical injuries to all occupants.
Locals rushed to the scene and initiated rescue efforts, pulling the injured from the wreckage and shifting them to a nearby hospital.
Doctors, however, declared all three occupants dead on arrival, officials said.
At the time of the incident, the other two cars carrying seven members of the group had stopped near a toll plaza. They were informed about the crash shortly afterward.
Police identified the deceased as Siddhant (21), Kunal (25), and Mayuresh (23).
Authorities have conducted postmortem examinations and handed over the bodies to family members and friends. The bodies are being transported to Pune by ambulance.
Police said a case has been registered and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
“We have collected evidence from the site and are examining all aspects, including vehicle condition and driver fatigue,” Sikarwar said.
The incident adds to a series of fatal road accidents on high-speed corridors, where officials continue to stress the importance of rest breaks and cautious driving during long journeys. [KNT]
