An SUV with a 17-year-old boy at the wheel that was allegedly involved in a race with two other cars spun out of control and crashed into a mini-truck, a motorised van and a motorcycle at the Owl More crossing, near Eco Park, in New Town early on Sunday.
The three vehicles were waiting for the traffic light at the intersection on Major Arterial Road to turn green when the SUV rammed into them around 5.10am.
The impact of the crash was such that motorcyclist Manoranjan Mondal flew off his vehicle and landed several feet away. Mondal, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to a private hospital near Chinar Park, where he is being treated.
An officer in the Bidhannagar commissionerate said the teenager who was driving the SUV, a resident of Bally in Howrah, has been booked under various sections of the IPC, including 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 279 (rash and negligent driving), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 427 (mischief).
The police said he was not injured. The case will come up before a juvenile court on Monday.
The officer said all three cars that had been racing belonged to young men who were part of a group that regularly organises drag races and other such events. The group runs a WhatsApp group as well as a page on a social networking site.
“The 17-year-old was trying to overtake a car involved in the race when he lost control of his Jeep Compass. He was trying to overtake the car despite the fact that the signal had turned red,” said an officer.