According to police, the Scorpio was hurtling at high speed when the driver fell asleep, causing it to hit the central divider and cross into oncoming traffic. It smashed directly into a trailer, reducing the SUV to wreckage.

Dohri Ghat police and rescue personnel arrived promptly but faced a grim scene. The fierce collision had crushed the vehicle, requiring extensive efforts with hydraulic cutters to pull out the trapped passengers. After nearly three hours of intense operations, the five victims—all family members from Gorakhpur—were recovered, but life had already ebbed away.

The group had been in Ranchi for a wedding ceremony and was heading back when drowsiness struck the driver around 3 AM. This preventable disaster highlights the risks of long-distance night travel without adequate rest.

In the aftermath, shrunken families mourn as post-mortems confirm the cause of death. Traffic was disrupted briefly but has normalized after vehicle removal. Officials urge motorists to take breaks and avoid highways during fatigue-prone hours to prevent such irreplaceable losses.