Missed Exit Turns Fatal: 4 of Sonipat Family Killed as Reversing Car Collides with Speeding SUV on Delhi-Dehradun Expressway
SAHARANPUR: In a chilling reminder of how a single driving error can turn into a death trap on high-speed Indian expressways, four members of a family from Sonipat, Haryana, were killed on the spot when their hatchback was rammed by a speeding SUV on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway.
The scary multi-vehicle crash, which took place in the Rampur Maniharan area of Saharanpur district, was captured live on the expressway’s highway CCTV cameras. The disturbing CCTV footage, which has now gone viral online, shows the final moments leading up to the high-speed collision that has sent shockwaves across the country.
The Fatal Oversight: Reversing at the Halgoya Cut
According to preliminary findings released by the district administration, the ill-fated family was heading towards Uttarakhand for a pilgrimage. While traveling on the Saharanpur stretch of the newly constructed Delhi-Dehradun Greenfield Expressway, the driver of the hatchback overshot the designated exit at the Halgoya Cut. Instead of continuing forward to the next safe turnaround point, the driver stopped the vehicle dead in the middle of the high-speed corridor and began reversing toward the missed exit.
High-Velocity Impact Flips SUV
As the hatchback was backing up on the under-construction stretch, a Mahindra Scorpio-N SUV traveling at high highway speed approached from behind. Expecting a clear lane, the SUV driver had minimal reaction time to avoid the stationary, reversing vehicle. The resulting rear-end collision was catastrophic. The impact mangled the hatchback into a heap of metal, dragging it several meters across the concrete. The momentum caused the SUV to spin out of control, flip completely, and turtle over onto its roof.
Casualties and Identity of the Deceased
Local authorities confirmed that out of the seven occupants inside the crushed hatchback, four died instantly due to the severe impact. The deceased have been identified as:
- Praveen (40)
- Preeti (37), his wife
- Sudesh, his elderly mother
- Shivansh (9), his son
Three other passengers sustained near-fatal injuries. Commuters and highway patrol teams rushed to the scene to pull the survivors from the wreckage. They are currently receiving critical care at the district hospital’s trauma center.
🚨 Devastating crash on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway.
— PuneNow (@itspunenow) June 29, 2026
A car overshot an exit and reversed on the high-speed corridor, causing a violent collision with an oncoming SUV.
4 of a family killed.
Never stop or reverse on an expressway. Stay safe. #RoadSafety #DriveSafe pic.twitter.com/AADZ2PVFjx
Administration Launches Probe Into CCTV Footage
Saharanpur District Magistrate Arvind Kumar Chauhan and Senior Superintendent of Police Abhinandan visited the trauma center to monitor medical operations and meet the grieving relatives.
“The CCTV footage clearly indicates that the vehicle had crossed the Halgoya Cut and was attempting a reverse maneuver on a high-speed lane,” DM Arvind Kumar Chauhan stated. “The police have taken the bodies for post-mortem analysis and a rigorous probe is underway to map exact lane speeds and compliance.”
The Growing Crisis of Expressway Civic Sense in India
This tragic incident highlights a lethal structural and behavioral problem seen on modern Indian expressways. With infrastructure like the Delhi-Dehradun Corridor cutting travel times significantly, average commuter speeds have soared to over 100 km/h.
Expressway Safety Protocol: Highway authorities stress that under no circumstances should a driver ever reverse, halt, or drive against traffic on an expressway. If an exit is missed, drivers must proceed to the next designated interchange, even if it adds an extra 20–30 kilometers to the trip.
As the police continue to scan the highway data, the tragedy serves as a grim warning to millions of motorists: on India’s new-age expressways, saving a few minutes by violating basic traffic discipline can cost your entire family their lives.
