Dehradun accident: What happened in the last moments before 6 friends died in horrific car crash

NEW DELHI: Six young lives, including three women, died in a high-speed collision at ONGC Chowk in Dehradun early Tuesday. The MUV they were traveling in rammed into a container truck, leaving the vehicle mangled.
The sole survivor, 25-year-old Siddhesh Agrawal, is in stable condition but cannot speak.
The last hours of seven friends
The victims, aged 19 to 24, included Guneet Singh, Kamakshi Singhal, Navya Goyal, Rishabh Jain, Atul Agrawal and Kunal Kukreja. They were returning from a party hosted by Siddhesh at his residence.
Following the gathering, the group decided on a late-night drive, which ended in the fatal crash.
Around 1:30am., the MUV, reportedly speeding at over 100 km/h, approached the busy ONGC Chowk.
CCTV footage shows the MUV speeding at over 100 km/h and attempting to overtake a luxury car before misjudging the distance and slamming into the truck. The impact was so severe that the MUV's roof was torn off, killing six on the spot.
Three of the deceased were students at a private university and one was an engineering graduate.
'Non-functional CCTV'
The accident’s precise details remain partially unclear due to non-functional CCTV cameras at ONGC Chowk, offline after a ransomware attack. Dehradun Smart City Limited (DSCL) confirmed that out of 536 cameras in the city, 134 remain non-operational, including the one crucial to this case.
Local authorities and police have cited the group’s excessive speed as the primary cause of the crash. The container truck driver fled the scene, though officials suggest he wasn’t at fault.
Police investigations have also revealed that the MUV was being driven with an air of casual disregard for traffic norms, a pattern seen among many young drivers in the region.
Read more: 'Non-functional CCTV' hampers probe into deadly Dehradun crash; FIR against unidentified person
Sole survivor stable but cannot speak
Police are consulting legal experts to determine potential actions in a tragic car crash that claimed six young lives, including three women and left one survivor, Siddhesh Agrawal, critically injured.
Siddhesh, the sole survivor, is currently hospitalised with a severe head injury and remains unable to provide a statement.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accident occurred when a speeding multi-utility vehicle (MUV) collided with the rear left section of a container truck, a blind spot for large commercial vehicles. Authorities have found no fault on the part of the truck driver.
Complicating the legal process, the car’s owner, who was driving at the time of the crash, also lost his life in the incident. Police are exploring legal options in the absence of complaints from the victims' families.
What the investigation revealed
According to the initial investigation, the MUV, likely a new vehicle without number plates, was traveling from Ballupur Chowk towards Garhi Cantt when it was overtaken at high speed by a luxury car.
In an attempt to catch up, the MUV driver accelerated. Meanwhile, a container truck was crossing the intersection at a steady pace.
Misjudging the timing, the MUV driver believed they could clear the intersection before the truck passed. However, the speeding MUV collided with the truck’s rear left side, resulting in the fatal crash.
Citizens urge authorities to increase patrols
In the wake of the accident, citizens are urging authorities to increase patrols near pubs and bars and establish more checkpoints to deter drunk driving.
“There should be strict penalties for violators, regardless of their status or influence. Authorities must enforce measures against speeding, ensure helmet usage, and address the issue of multiple riders on two-wheelers. Pub and club owners should also be held responsible if intoxicated patrons leave their premises and attempt to drive,” said Radha Chatterjee, a member of the citizens’ forum.
The forum has also advocated for the introduction of 'designated drivers' in Dehradun and has formally written to the director general of police, urging the immediate adoption of these safety measures to prevent further accidents.
In response to public pressure, the administration has taken some steps to improve safety. The liquor licence of a five-star hotel on Mussoorie Road, which had been extended to allow 24-hour service, has now been rolled back to its original schedule.
Dehradun crash: Experts say car was speeding over 120 kmph before fatal accident
Amid an ongoing investigation into a deadly accident that killed six young individuals, including three women, and critically injured one, a team of experts from the car manufacturer inspected the mangled wreck of the Innova multi-utility vehicle (MUV) at the city's Cantonment police station. According to police officials on Monday, the experts suggested that the vehicle was traveling at a speed exceeding 120 kmph at the time of the crash.