Subarnapur: Ajay Jethi, the driver of the MUV (multi utility vehicle) that crushed three to death and left six others seriously injured after ramming into an auto-rickshaw at the Badabahali Chhak on national highway no. 57 in Sonepur district in the wee hours on Tuesday did not have a valid driving license (DL).
This was informed by Subarnapur Superintendent of Police (SP) Amaresh Kumar Panda.
Panda has further informed that a case has been registered against Jethi under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Snigdharani Suna, IIC of Sundargarh police station was returning in her MUV after finishing Suna Besha duty in Puri with her driver Jethi at the wheel on the fateful day.
Around 4 AM on Tuesday, eight vegetable sellers were coming to Sonepur haat in an auto-rickshaw after fetching vegetables from Raghavpalli in Bolangir district.
While they were chit-chatting with a biker at the Badabahali chhak on national highway 57, Suna’s overspeeding MUV coming from the opposite direction hit them head-on.
Kuabati Nayak, Satya Pradhan, and Prananath Biswal who were seated in the auto-rickshaw loaded with vegetables were killed on the spot.
The biker and five others who were also seated inside the auto-rickshaw were seriously injured in the collision.
After the accident, Jethi and Suna managed to flee the spot leaving the damaged MUV behind.
Both Jethi and Suna were traced from Bolangir on the same day. They were brought to Subarnapur where Jethi was arrested.
