Ghaziabad: Three people lost their lives and one person was seriously injured after a tempo traveller crashed into people standing near a parked vehicle on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad early Friday morning. The tragic accident took place in the Vijay Nagar area and has once again raised concerns about road safety on busy expressways.
According to police, the incident happened at around 6.10 am near the IPEM College exit point on the main lane of the expressway leading from Delhi towards Meerut.
Officials said a Mahindra Thar had been parked on the roadside. Some of its occupants had stepped out of the vehicle and were standing nearby. At the same time, a motorcyclist was also present near the spot. While they were talking, a tempo traveller coming from behind reportedly lost control and rammed into them at high speed.
The impact of the collision was severe. Two people died on the spot, while another person suffered critical injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but later died during medical care.
Police later confirmed that the total death toll had risen to three.
The deceased have been identified as Deepak and Praveen. The identity of the third victim had not been confirmed at the time of the report.
The accident caused panic among people travelling on the route during the early morning hours. Traffic movement in the area was also affected for some time as emergency teams and police reached the scene.
The damaged vehicles were removed later, and traffic was restored.
Police officials said the tempo traveller was travelling from Delhi to Haridwar when the crash took place. There were 26 women passengers inside the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Fortunately, none of the passengers were reported dead in the collision, though officials checked their condition after the incident.
Investigators believe that the people standing outside the parked Thar were highly vulnerable because they were close to the traffic lane on a fast-moving expressway.
Road safety experts often warn that stopping vehicles on expressways can be dangerous unless it is absolutely necessary. Vehicles on such roads move at high speed, leaving little reaction time for drivers approaching from behind.
Even a brief stop on the roadside can become risky, especially during low-visibility morning hours or if warning signals are not placed properly.
Police have not yet released full details on whether the Thar had hazard lights on or whether warning triangles had been placed behind the vehicle.
They are also examining whether speeding, driver fatigue, distraction or negligence played a role in the crash.
The tempo traveller driver, identified as Virendra, was taken into custody soon after the accident.
Police said they are questioning him and carrying out a detailed investigation.
Authorities are expected to inspect the vehicle’s condition, brake system, speed records and driver background as part of the inquiry.
CCTV footage from the expressway and nearby cameras may also be checked to understand the exact sequence of events.
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The Delhi-Meerut Expressway is one of the busiest road corridors in the National Capital Region. It connects Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut and is used daily by thousands of commuters, commercial vehicles and tourists.
Because of high-speed traffic, accidents on such roads often become serious.
Experts say several precautions are important for drivers using expressways:
Avoid stopping unnecessarily on the main road or shoulder
Use hazard lights immediately if forced to stop
Place reflective warning signs behind the vehicle
Stay away from moving traffic lanes
Call emergency services quickly in case of breakdowns
Maintain speed limits and safe following distance
Standing outside a parked vehicle on an expressway is considered especially dangerous, as other drivers may not notice people in time.
Many accidents happen when one vehicle stops suddenly and another crashes into it or nearby pedestrians.
Police regularly advise motorists to move broken-down vehicles as far from traffic as possible and wait behind barriers where available.
This latest crash has once again highlighted the need for stronger awareness about expressway safety rules.
Families of the victims were informed after the accident. Officials said further legal action will be taken based on the investigation findings.
The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examination.
Police are also working to identify the third victim and contact relatives.
The women passengers travelling to Haridwar were later assisted after the accident.
Road accidents continue to be a major concern in many parts of India. High-speed roads improve travel time, but they also demand greater caution, discipline and alertness from every road user.
Drivers are urged to remain focused, avoid fatigue, follow traffic rules and slow down near stopped vehicles.
The Ghaziabad tragedy serves as a painful reminder that even a few moments on a busy highway can turn deadly when safety measures are ignored.
Authorities are expected to release more details once the investigation is complete.
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