New Delhi: In a case of drunken driving, a 21-year-old on his way back from a party was involved in multiple hit-and-run cases this morning that left two persons dead and one critically injured.
The accident took place around 6.30 am on Monday on a road behind Tihar Jail. Police said Rishabh - had to travel just 3 km from Shiv Nagar to his house in Janakpuri, but he turned the five minute drive into a death rampage-- was driving his father's Honda City car at a speed of over 100 kmph and hit 3 persons over a 1.5 km stretch before he was stopped and caught.
The impact of bodies smashed his car's windscreen in two places, leaving a gaping hole on the driver's side, but he kept going.
When a constable finally forced him to stop, he staggered out of the car and demanded a cigarette lighter. He then told the police to get compensation for the victims from his father.
According to the police, the first victim was 40-year-old Kameshwar Prasad, a government employee, who was out for morning walk. The impact of the speeding car threw him several metres away.
But Rishabh did not stop, the police said. He drove on and next hit 40-year-old Santosh, who was cleaning cars in a residential area. He sped away again, driving in the wrong lane, and then hit 67-year-old Ashwani Anand, a property dealer who also was out for a morning walk with a neighbour.
CCTV footage recovered from the area showed Mr Anand's accident. In the footage, which surfaced later in the day, Mr Anand could be seen noticing the car and trying to escape by running towards a pavement. But the car did not stop, and hit him.
A police patrolling team chased and intercepted
Rishabh after covering quite a distance."The car was intercepted after a chase of around 400 meters. The errant driver tried to step out of the vehicle and flee. However, the policemen overpowered him. He was found driving under the influence of alcohol,” DCP Pushpendra Kumar said. Eyewitnesses told the senior police officer that he was heavily drunk and unable to stand on his own when the policemen took him out of the vehicle.
Santosh, who was critically injured, is battling for his life. The police said he is not in a condition to give his statement.
The car, which is registered in Rishabh's father's name, has been seized. The police said they found liquor bottles inside.
Rishabh, the son of a businessman -- is a student of business administration in a college under a prominent government university in Delhi. He has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other charges under Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act, said senior police officer Pushpendra Kumar.
(PTI inputs)
