A car rammed into a bus that braked suddenly in front of it to avoid hitting another bus it was racing on the airport-bound flank of VIP Road near the Haldirams’ intersection on Monday afternoon, police said.

The two buses — one a government bus on its way to Asansol and the other a private vehicle headed for Barasat — were racing through the airport-bound flank of VIP Road, an officer said.

Three passengers of the car were injured and rushed to Charnock Hospital.

Sidesh Khowala, 30, who was driving the car, pressed the brakes but the car did not stop quickly enough and hit the government bus from behind at considerable speed, the officer said.

Khowala’s mother Rekha and wife Swati were seated in the rear.

Motorists passing by and the police rescued the three.

“Sidesh Khowala escaped with minor injuries. His wife Swati suffered a trauma injury to her head and his mother deep gashes on her forehead. The couple were discharged after treatment. The mother has been admitted,” said an official of Charnock Hospital.

The impact of the crash was such that the car’s bonnet was torn off. The front bumper broke away with the headlights.

“The government bus suddenly slowed to avoid hitting the private bus it was trying to overtake. It was so sudden that Sidesh Khowala failed to stop the car in time,” the officer said.

The six-lane VIP Road is one of the main arteries that connects the airport with the rest of the city. Rash driving, jumping signals, picking up and dropping passengers in the middle of the road are routinely reported from VIP Road.

“We prosecute drivers regularly for traffic ruleviolations. Despite that,many drivers continue to drive dangerously. We will intensify our drive,” said an officerin the Bidhannagar commissionerate.