A tragic accident on the Delhi-Lucknow highway late Tuesday night claimed the lives of two young women after a container truck collided with a car carrying four friends. The incident, which occurred near Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, has raised concerns over navigation app usage after police suggested that Google Maps may have misled the driver into taking a wrong turn.
The four victims—Shivani, Simran, Rahul, and Sanju, all residents of Rohtak, Haryana—were returning from Nainital after visiting the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram when their car was struck by a cement pipe-laden container truck, the NDTV reported.
The crash resulted in all four doors of the car getting locked, leaving the occupants trapped for nearly an hour before police and bystanders could rescue them. Tragically, Shivani and Simran succumbed to their injuries while waiting for help, while Rahul and Sanju remain critically injured and are undergoing treatment.
Eyewitness and Police Statements
Superintendent of Police (Moradabad), Ranvijay Singh, confirmed that the collision happened while the car was exiting a bypass and turning towards Delhi, at the same time the truck was traveling from Delhi to Rampur.
Eyewitness Rajesh Kumar, who helped bring one of the injured to the hospital, recounted the moment: “The car was crossing the road when the truck hit them. The impact was so strong that the vehicle was almost crushed.”
Visuals from the accident site depict a severely damaged car, emitting smoke, as rescue teams and locals struggled for over an hour to free the victims.
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Authorities reported that the container truck overturned due to the sheer force of the impact, causing a temporary roadblock on the busy highway. Police suspect that Google Maps was active on the mobile found inside the car, indicating that the driver may have followed incorrect navigation directions, leading to the fatal wrong turn.
Navigation App Concerns: A Rising Issue
This tragic accident has reignited concerns about blindly relying on GPS navigation while driving, especially on highways and poorly marked roads. In recent years, several accidents have been linked to faulty navigation instructions, raising questions about driver awareness and the need for better signages and road safety measures.
The unfortunate loss of two young lives serves as a grim reminder of the importance of road awareness and cautious driving. Authorities have urged drivers to double-check navigation routes, follow road signs, and remain extra cautious at bypasses and intersections.
As police continue their investigation, the families of the victims mourn their devastating loss, while safety advocates stress the urgent need for better traffic management and GPS accuracy to prevent such tragedies in the future.
