Indian-origin driver charged in Australia over accident that killed four passengers from Punjab
Melbourne (PTI): A 41-year-old Indian-origin driver has been charged in Australia over an accident that killed four passengers from India when his car collided with a utility vehicle, according to media reports.
Harinder Singh, who remains in hospital under police guard, was charged on Wednesday with four counts of dangerous driving causing death, The Age newspaper reported.
The accident occurred on January 4 when Singh was driving a Peugeot with four male passengers across an intersection in Shepparton city of Australia's Victoria state.
The car collided with a Toyota Hilux ute towing a trailer. All four passengers died at the scene.
Shepparton Punjabi community leader Dharmi Singh confirmed on Tuesday that the four men as well as the driver were all Punjabi, Shepparton News reported.
"They (the men who died) were visiting friends in Shepparton," he said.
Three of the four men who died were "ejected" from the car, according to police, with officers investigating whether the passengers were wearing seatbelts.
Victoria Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Justin Goldsmith said last week early signs pointed to a "T-bone type collision", Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
T-Bone accidents, also known as side-impact accidents, occur when one car's front end collides with the side of another vehicle.
"As a result of the collision, three men in the rear of that (Peugeot) hatchback had been ejected and have died. And the front-seat passenger has also been killed," he said.
"It's rare that people get ejected when they're wearing seatbelts. So we can't stress enough the importance of wearing a seatbelt," Goldsmith.
The 29-year-old ute driver from Nathalia was taken to hospital with minor injuries after stopping to assist at the scene.
Singh will face court in June.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
West Bengal exit polls: People’s Pulse projects TMC lead, others predict BJP surge
Kolkata: Exit polls for the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026 have shown different projections, with some surveys indicating a lead for the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), while others suggest an advantage for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to People’s Pulse, the TMC+ alliance is projected to win between 177 and 187 seats in the 294-member Assembly.
The BJP is estimated to secure between 95 and 110 seats, while the Left Front+ is predicted to win up to one seat. The Congress (INC) is likely to get between one and three seats, and others are projected to win between one and two seats.
Matrize projections indicate a different trend, with the BJP projected to win between 146 and 161 seats, crossing the majority mark of 148, with a vote share of 42.5 per cent. The TMC is estimated to win between 125 and 140 seats with a vote share of 40.8 per cent.
P-MARQ has also projected a BJP lead, estimating the party to win between 150 and 175 seats, while the TMC+ alliance is expected to secure between 118 and 138 seats. The same survey projects Congress to win between 2 and 6 seats.
Poll Diary estimates suggest the BJP may win between 142 and 171 seats, while the TMC could secure between 99 and 127 seats. Other parties are projected to win between 5 and 9 seats.
Chanakya Strategies has projected the BJP to win between 150 and 160 seats, while the TMC is estimated to get between 130 and 140 seats. Others are expected to secure between 6 and 10 seats, while Congress and Left are projected at zero.
ABP projections estimate the BJP to win between 146 and 161 seats, while the TMC is expected to secure between 125 and 140 seats. Others are projected to win between 6 and 10 seats.
Polls in the state were held in two phases on April 23 and 29, and the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
