A youth died while another sustained serious injuries after their car crashed into a tree on the Kurali-Morinda road near Dhianpura village near Kurali early on Monday morning.

Thakur Singh, aged around 20, a resident of Katal village in Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh), succumbed to injuries at PGI, Chandigarh. “Abhimanyu, in his late teens, a resident of Ward 5, Kurali, is admitted in the PGI in a critical condition,” said investigating officer (IO) Assistant Sub-Inspector Kulbir Singh.

Abhimanyu was at the wheel of the Ford Fiesta car, which belonged to his maternal uncle, when the accident occurred. ASI Kulbir Singh said while Thakur was a trained driver, Abhimanyu was still learning to drive.

“As they headed towards Morinda, Abhimanyu drove the car at a high speed owing to which he lost control over the vehicle,” said the IO.

Since the car hit a tree on the left, the side on which Thakur was seated, he sustained grievous injuries, to which he succumbed.

On the statement of Thakur’s father Jeet Singh Verma, Abhimanyu has been booked for causing death by rash and negligent driving.

Man dies as Army truck hits scooter

PANCHKULA: A 45-year-old resident of Rajpur village, Chandimandir, died after an Army truck rammed into his scooter near Red Bishop in Sector 1, Panchkula, on Monday morning. The deceased, Malkeet Singh, was on his way home after attending to his wife, who is admitted in General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula, when the accident took place. He is survived by his wife and three children.

“He had gone to the hospital with breakfast for his wife, who had undergone an operation at the hospital a few days ago. The Army truck (000 1315071L) was coming from Sankla Chowk to Tank Chowk when it hit Malkeet,” said investigating officer ASI Deepak Kumar. He added that Singh was rushed to the General Hospital where he was declared ‘dead on arrival’. The body of the deceased was handed over to the family after a post-mortem.

While the truck was impounded by the police, driver Anil Kumar is absconding.