A late-night chain of accidents in the Bharatpur area of the state capital left one person dead and six others injured after an SUV first collided with a car and then ploughed into people standing by the roadside.
According to police, the Scorpio struck a car before veering onto the roadside and running over a group of people. Six persons were injured in the incident. One of those critically injured later succumbed to injuries. The accident triggered panic in the locality.
Bharatpur police station personnel reached the spot within about five minutes of the incident, seized the Scorpio, and brought the situation under control. Bhubaneswar DCP Saravana Vivek M also visited the accident site and reviewed the situation.
Police have detained the Scorpio driver and are questioning him. Two people were travelling in the Scorpio at the time of the accident. Investigators are also recording statements from eyewitnesses. Traffic on both sides of the road has since returned to normal and the area is under control.
The precise sequence of events — how the Scorpio hit the car and then ran over people on the roadside — is still unclear.
The City DCP said the exact cause of the accident will be known only after the police investigation is completed.
