A New Alipore resident who was returning from a vacation abroad with her husband and two sons died after a Mercedes-Benz hit their stationary car from behind at a traffic signal on EM Bypass early on Thursday.
Minu Dhandhania, 49, the victim, was on her way home to New Alipore with her family from the airport when the tragedy struck.
Rahul Kedia, who was at the wheel of the Mercedes, was allegedly intoxicated. Police said Kedia, who runs a tax consultancy, was arrested at the spot.
He has been booked under IPC Section 304 (part II) — culpable homicide not amounting to murder where the accused has the knowledge of the consequences of his action.
Additional charges of mischief, attempt to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash and negligent driving and drink driving have also been slapped on Kedia.
If convicted, he can be sent to jail for 10 years.
The Dhandhanias are residents of E Block of New Alipore.
The Mercedes-Benz on the EM Bypass around 12.55am on Thursday. Pradip Sanyal
Minu’s husband Devkishan Dhandhania, 51, has been admitted to AMRI Hospitals Salt Lake. Their sons Aryan and Rachit did not need hospitalisation, the police said.
“We have learned that the family was returning home from the airport after a vacation outside India when the incident happened,” said an officer of Beleghata police station.
“Their Honda City was standing at a red light at the intersection of EM Bypass and Beleghata Main Road around 12.55am when a Mercedes-Benz rammed into the rear of the car at a high speed. Under the impact of the collision, the Honda City moved forward and hit a pick-up van that was in front of it.”
The police said Minu, Devkishan and one of their sons were on the back seat, while the other son was sitting next to the driver.
All four were taken to AMRI Salt Lake, where Minu was declared dead. Devkishan, who runs a business, was hospitalised.
Aryan, Rachit and the driver escaped with relatively minor injuries, an officer said.
An official of AMRI Salt Lake told Metro on Thursday that Devkishan was “able to stand on his feet”.
The Honda City Pradip Sanyal
“He is stable. His basic tests have been done. An orthopedic surgeon will examine him on Friday,” the official said.
An officer in the traffic police department said Kedia, a resident of Kadapara in Phoolbagan, was driving in an inebriated state and did not try to run away.
“He was visibly drunk. Later, a medical test confirmed his condition,” the officer said.
Initially, he was taken to Beleghata police station, from where he was shifted to Lalbazar.
Kedia was produced in court on Thursday and remanded in police custody till June 22.
The small truck that was hit by the Honda City fled the spot and could not be located by the cops till Thursday evening.
The fatal squad of the traffic police department has taken over the investigation of the case.
In a city where a large number of motorists are in the habit of jumping signals, those who follow traffic rules, even at night when supervision is lax, fall prey to such road rule violations.
“It is extremely sad a life was lost despite the driver following the rule and standing at the signal. It is especially important to follow the traffic rules at night when there are fewer cops and cars on the roads and motorists often tend to speed,” said a senior officer of the traffic department.