One killed, 2 hurt as speeding taxi crashes into tea stall on Jaipur highway

Jaipur: A 24-year-old man was killed, and two others were injured Friday morning after a speeding taxi crashed into a tea stall on the Jaipur-Sikar Highway near Motu Ka Bas area, police said.

The deceased was identified as Balram Atal, a resident of Mehar Khurd village, Jaipur Rural. The injured were identified as Thanaram, a resident of Jodhpur, and tea stall owner Kailash Saini of Motu Ka Bas. Both suffered minor injuries and were discharged after primary treatment.

SHO Sunil Godara of Daulatpura police station said the accident occurred around 7.30 am. A couple travelling from Jaipur to the Khatu Shyamji temple were the passengers in the taxi. “The car, allegedly being driven at high speed, went out of control and crashed into the tea stall located on the service lane of the highway,” he said. The couple and the driver of the car, identified as Jitendra Singh, escaped without major injuries.

The officer said Balram came to the stall to buy a packet of gutkha and was returning when the car first hit him before ploughing into the stall, while Thanaram and Kailash were sitting at the stall. “Balram succumbed to the injuries at the hospital,” said an officer.

Angry locals caught hold of the driver and allegedly assaulted him before police intervened. During questioning, the driver reportedly told police that he lost control after dozing off briefly while driving. Police also seized the taxi.

Eyewitnesses claimed that the rashly driven vehicle appeared to be running at nearly 130 kmph. “We were sitting and using our mobile phones when the car suddenly came towards us. It first hit the young man and then crashed into the stall. We narrowly survived,” claimed an eyewitness.