Bhubaneswar: A speeding car lost control and crashed through the guardwall of Sishu Bhawan overbridge in Odisha capital on Monday morning, plunging dangerously close to houses at Kedarpalli slum below.
According to sources, the accident took place at around 5.30 am. The car rammed into the guardwall of the bridge and struck a tree before crashing onto the roof of a house with an asbestos structure in the slum. Residents of the slum had a terrifying close call, as the plummeting car came dangerously close to several homes. Eyewitness accounts described a loud impact followed by panic among nearby residents. A nearly 10-foot stretch of the guardwall was damaged, and the front portion of the car was mangled in the crash. A youth sleeping inside one of the houses reportedly sustained head injuries after bricks fell on him.
The driver, who was the sole occupant, was injured in the crash but survived. He was rescued from the wreckage by locals, who then handed him over to the police. He was later taken to the Capital police station.
The accident caused temporary disruption to traffic on the overbridge and in surrounding areas, but normalcy was restored later.
Meanwhile, police have launched an investigation to ascertain the sequence of events, leading to the crash. It is being suspected that the driver was driving the car under the influence of alcohol.
