Chatra: Four teenagers were killed after a speeding SUV rammed into the motorcycle they were riding at Chiraiyatand in the district late on Thursday night, police said. The deceased were identified as Manjeet Kumar, 17, Vikas Mahto, 16, and Arpan Mahto, 17, all residents of Baradih village, and Sonu Kumar, 16, of Hafua village.All four were students of the same school at Tarwa Baradih in Piparwar block and recently appeared for their matric examination. Police said the four boys left their homes around 3 pm on the motorcycle of Sonu’s brother-in-law for a ride. Around 9:15 pm, the speeding SUV travelling from Bachra side collided head-on with the motorcycle near Chiraiyatand. The impact was so severe that three of the boys died on the spot, while the fourth succumbed to his injuries later. The SUV driver fled after the accident.Locals rushed to the spot after hearing the crash and informed police. Sonu, who was critically injured, was first taken to Bachra regional hospital. Doctors there referred him to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) in Ranchi, but he died on the way.Later, villagers and family members blocked the Chiraiyatand-Kalyanpur-Chatra road for several hours, demanding strict action against the driver.Witnesses alleged that the SUV driver was drunk and that there were liquor bottles inside the vehicle. Some claimed that the SUV’s number plate was removed after the accident.Piparwar police station officer-in-charge Abhay Kumar reached the spot with a team and tried to pacify the protesters. He said the damaged SUV and bike were seized. He said additional forces were deployed in the area to prevent any further unrest. Police said an investigation is underway to identify and arrest the SUV driver.
