Teen learner's car hits vendor; BJP Kalia’s new car, gate damaged

A girl, learning to drive a car, rammed her vehicle into a cycle-borne newspaper vendor at the Shastri Market area this morning, damaging a vehicle and the gate of the residence of senior BJP leader and former minister Manoranjan Kalia. Unable to control her vehicle, the girl hit the leader's private car, parked outside his home, and damaged a pillar at his house.

The newspaper vendor has been grievously injured in the accident.

The 18-year-old girl driving the vehicle is a resident of Central Town.

The video footage captures a car reversing recklessly and crashing into a vendor’s bicycle, sending the rider airborne due to the force of the impact. Although the cyclist attempted to escape, the speed of the vehicle left him no time to react. The out-of-control car dragged the bicycle along and eventually collided with a pillar at Kalia’s residence, also damaging an iron gate which was torn off its hinges.

This is the BJP leader's second vehicle to be damaged this year. The Innova Crysta had been bought after the former minister's previous Innova was damaged in the grenade attack outside his residence in April.

Today's incident also comes a week after the untimely death of SAD leader Mohinder Singh Kaypee's son Richi Kaypee's death after his Fortuner was hit in a multiple car crash and two months after the demise of centenarian marathon legend Fauja Singh, after he was hit by a vehicle.

The newspaper vendor has suffered injuries in his head, eyes and arms among other injuries. He is currently under treatment at the Civil Hospital. While no formal charges have been pressed in the case, the frequency of such incidents has become a cause for concern.

Kalia's new Innova (PB08-SS-0243), which got damaged today, was bought in May.

Kalia said, "A crowded market is no place to learn a car. This should never have taken place in such an area. There are many open grounds for new drivers to practise in. It is clearly a case of negligent driving. The newspaper vendor also tried to save himself, had he not done so, he would have died. The family also came to me. Now what can one say."

Kalia added, "The road is also witness to joyrides and stunts from bike-borne men who use horns much louder than the prescribed limits. It is clear that the police have failed to act against such elements, which embolden them."

Kalia confirmed that he was not pressing any formal charges.

The SHO, police station number 3, said an FIR was not being registered in the case as no complaint had been filed.