Kharar, March 30
Rash driving led to the accident yesterday that claimed the life of Captain Kanwaljit, suggest preliminary inquiry reports.
The speedometer needle of the Hyundai Elantra, in which the minister was traveling, was stuck at 110 Kmph, the speed at which the car was being driven at the time of the crash while negotiating a turn on the road. The speed of the car before the turn could have been even higher, suspect investigators.
Patiala Division Commissioner as well as forensic experts have submitted reports which claim that the car first hit the rear wheel of a truck, which had a broken axle and was stranded on the middle of the road. The impact forced open the air bags and impaired the visibility of the driver. The steering also became free and the driver lost control over the vehicle, when it collided with the second truck.
The two truck drivers surrendered before the Kharar police this afternoon. They were identified as Diwakar Dubey from Jalalabad (UP) and Jagtar Singh from Ludhiana. Both were working for Satwinder Singh Chahal from Mandi Gobindgarh.
Statements of four eye witnesses have also been recorded and they apparently confirm the drivers’ claim that the Hyundai Elantra was speeding. Engineers from Hyundai were also summoned to look into the technical aspects.
The Patiala Divisional Commissioner was surprised to see that there was no divider at Khanpur on NH 95. He directed a ‘skip’ road to be carved out.
