Two killed in Moradabad as speeding SUV rams e-scooter, driver absconds
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Two men were killed on Tuesday, 29 September after a speeding SUV slammed into their e-scooter in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, sending the two-wheeler airborne and leaving both riders fatally injured, according to officials. The driver of the SUV allegedly fled the scene after abandoning the vehicle.
How the Accident Unfolded
The two victims, travelling together on an e-scooter, were struck by the speeding SUV with such force that the scooter was hurled a significant distance, according to preliminary information. Both men sustained critical injuries and were pronounced dead subsequently. Police reached the spot, took the bodies into custody, and dispatched them for post-mortem examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
The abandoned SUV was seized and brought to the local police station. The vehicle is reportedly registered in the name of Mohammad Naveed, a resident of the Civil Lines police station area of Moradabad. Investigators are working to establish the identity of the person who was at the wheel at the time of the collision and to trace the absconding driver.
Victims Identified, Families Devastated
The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Rihan and Abuzar, both residents of Salempur village under the Kanth police station area of Moradabad. The news left their families inconsolable, with relatives demanding strict action against the person responsible.
According to Rihan's family, he had been working in Dubai and was due to fly back on 1 October. The family said he was the sole breadwinner of the household and that his father has been unwell. A family member gave voice to the grief: 'The SUV rider may be a wealthy man, but what about them? The light of our home is gone.'
A Pattern of Reckless Driving in Moradabad
The incident has reignited concerns over road safety in the district. Locals noted that just three days earlier, an SUV had allegedly struck a parked e-rickshaw in the Kundarki police station area, resulting in another fatality. This is the second such fatal SUV-related accident in Moradabad within the space of a week, according to residents.
The back-to-back incidents point to a broader pattern of high-speed vehicle collisions on Moradabad's roads — a concern that locals say has gone unaddressed despite repeated incidents.
Separate SUV Crash in Chandigarh
In an unrelated road accident reported from Chandigarh earlier on the same day, an SUV driven by a woman collided with a motorcycle near a bridge close to Dhanas Lake. Two people travelling on the motorcycle were injured and taken to hospital. Their condition was not immediately known. Police seized both vehicles and launched an investigation into the circumstances of that collision as well.
Investigation Status
Police in Moradabad are pursuing the absconding SUV driver and examining all evidence, including the seized vehicle. The families of the deceased have formally demanded strict legal action. With two fatal SUV-related crashes in Moradabad within a week, pressure is likely to mount on local authorities to enforce speed limits and address reckless driving on district roads.