An Indore van crash injured at least six to seven people on Tuesday morning after a man drove away in a light commercial vehicle left with its key in the ignition and collided with vehicles across several parts of the city, police said. The auto-rickshaw driver suffered serious head injuries and was admitted to hospital.
Additional DCP Om Prakash told reporters that the incident began around 11 am outside Sayaji Hotel in the Vijay Nagar police station area. The man, whom police described as believed to be mentally ill, took the van and drove towards Bhangarh in the Hira Nagar police station area.
The vehicle first rammed a motorcycle at Bhangarh, damaging it. It then reached MR-10 Road, where it collided with an auto-rickshaw in front of Karnawat Hotel. The impact left the auto-rickshaw driver with serious head injuries. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The van continued towards the Hira Nagar area and struck a loading vehicle near Karnawat Paan Corner. It then moved towards Banganga, where it hit a motorcyclist before crashing into an electricity pole. The sequence of collisions continued up to Anshul Chauraha and caused panic among people in the area, according to the report.
Reports said six to seven people were injured and hospitalised in the collisions. The driver of the van was also injured during the incident. After the vehicle came to a stop at Banganga, some residents chased it for about two kilometres, caught hold of him and beat him.
Police reached the location after being informed and shifted the injured man to MY Hospital. The injured motorcyclist and another person were also admitted to hospital. The condition of the auto-rickshaw driver was described as serious because of his head injuries.
The incident involved multiple road users and locations spanning Vijay Nagar, Hira Nagar and Banganga police station areas. It also resulted in damage to a motorcycle, an auto-rickshaw and a loading vehicle, besides the light commercial van.
Police impounded the van, the motorcycle and the loading rickshaw involved in the crashes and moved them to the police station. The police response and the treatment of those injured remain the next recorded steps in the case.
