Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Feb 13: A six-year-old boy was killed and four others were injured after a speeding car driven by a 21-year-old student rammed into an autorickshaw and pedestrians in the Banthra area here on Thursday evening, police said.

According to preliminary investigations, a Swift car allegedly hit an autorickshaw before ploughing into people walking along the roadside near a Hanuman temple around 6 pm.

The injured have been identified as Armaan (12), Awadh Bihari (42), Sadhana Verma (35), Meena Devi (60), and six-year-old Dikshant Patel. All were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Police said Dikshant Patel, who sustained critical injuries, was later referred to another medical facility where he succumbed during treatment.

ACP (Krishna Nagar) Rajneesh Verma said the driver, identified as Gaurab Singh, has been taken into custody. An FIR has been registered against him on charges of reckless driving and endangering life.

Police said the accused is a Class 12 student and was returning with four friends from a farewell party at the time of the incident. He allegedly borrowed the car from a friend and was in possession of a valid driving licence.

During questioning, the accused reportedly claimed that he got “confused” between the brake and accelerator pedals and that a tyre burst led to the accident. Police said his claims are being verified as part of the ongoing investigation.

The incident comes days after multiple people were injured in Kanpur when a speeding Lamborghini, allegedly driven by the son of a prominent tobacco trader, rammed into pedestrians and two-wheelers on VIP Road in the city’s Gwaltoli area.