3 friends killed as speeding car crashes into parked crane:2 injured taken to hospital; group was returning home after having dinner

A tragic road accident in Betul claimed the lives of three young men after a speeding car rammed into a crane parked on the roadside. The crash occurred around 3 am on Monday near Basant Petrol Pump on Itarsi Road under the Kotwali police station area. According to police, the car (MP04-YP3795) collided with the stationary crane (MH18-BC9763) with such force that the vehicle was completely mangled. Five friends were travelling in the car and were returning after having dinner at a roadside dhaba when the accident took place. Local residents and Kotwali police rushed to the scene after being alerted. The impact had trapped the occupants inside, and rescuers had to break open the car’s doors and windows to pull them out. The injured were shifted to the district hospital with the help of a 108 ambulance and private vehicles. Doctors declared three youths dead on arrival. The deceased have been identified as Ritik Solanki (30) from Garg Colony, Vinay Prajapati (21) from Ramnagar, and Abhay Thakur (22), also from Ramnagar. The injured, Deva Pandey (32) from Ganj and Akash Pal (30) from Ramnagar are undergoing treatment at the district hospital. Their family members reached the hospital soon after receiving information. Police have registered a case and begun an investigation into the accident.