Tragic accident at toll plaza on Jalandhar-Pathankot NH; mother-son duo and pickup driver killed in late-night crash
PTC Web Desk: A tragic road accident at Chollang toll plaza on the Jalandhar-Pathankot National Highway claimed three lives on Monday night after a speeding car rammed into a stationary pickup vehicle.
The accident occurred at around 9 pm, leaving three persons dead and one seriously injured. Among the deceased were Dr Shabnam Saini, principal of KMS College in Dasuya, her 18-year-old son Tushant, and the pickup driver Rahul, also known as Mittu. The pickup’s cleaner, identified as William, sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.
According to the police, Dr Shabnam Saini had recently returned from the United States with her son. Earlier in the evening, the mother and son had visited Jalandhar to meet her daughter and were on their way back home when the accident occurred near the toll plaza.
Initial reports suggest that the pickup vehicle was parked near the toll area without its parking lights switched on. Due to poor visibility at night, the Ertiga car reportedly failed to notice the stationary vehicle and crashed into it at high speed.
The impact of the collision was extremely severe. The force caused the Bolero pickup to overturn, while the front portion of the Ertiga was completely crushed. The woman and her son died on the spot, along with the pickup driver.
William, the injured cleaner of the pickup, told the police that they had just unloaded their goods and were returning from Jalandhar. The vehicle had stopped briefly near the toll plaza when another vehicle suddenly hit them from behind.
Toll plaza staff rushed to the scene immediately after hearing the loud crash and attempted to rescue those trapped inside the vehicles. They helped pull the injured out and informed the police.
The police have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident and are examining whether negligence or poor visibility contributed to the crash.
- PTC NEWS
