A speeding car driven by a 24-year-old crashed into an autorickshaw at Kowdiar in Thiruvananthapuram, late on Thursday night. Adarsh, who was driving the car, died in the incident, while three women who were in the car with him and the driver of the autorickshaw he crashed into are all injured.

Police suspect that the crash happened as a result of a car race.

The speeding car – a Skoda – overturned after hitting the autorickshaw, and subsequently an electric pole. The incident took place around 11.30pm near Raj Bhavan.

Adarsh is the son of a businessman who owns the 4 star hotel SP Grand days in Thycaud in the city. One of the women passengers is reported to be the daughter of a theatre owner.

People who witnessed the incident tried to break open the car and get the victims out. However, they were unable to do so. They informed the fire force, who reached the spot a few minutes later, broke open the car and brought the victims out.

Adarsh, who hails from Vallakkadav in the city, was declared dead around midnight at the Medical College hospital. 

The women who were in the car have been identified as Gauri Lakshmi Subramaniam, Ananya and Silpa, all in their early 20s. Silpa has been admitted at the Medical College Hospital while the two other have been admitted at a private hospital. Autorickshaw driver Sajikumar, 42, a native of Pappanamcode has also been admitted at the Medical College Hospital.

“It is a suspected case of racing. The speeding vehicle which rammed into the auto is a Skoda. The deceased has been identified as Adarsh a native of Vallakkadav,” the traffic police said.

“But we can’t confirm the accident occurred during racing unless we check the CCTV visuals. We have to find if there were other speeding vehicles passing through the area at that time,” Museum Police Sub Inspector G Sunil told TNM.

Kowdiar used to be infamous a few years ago for car racing, and accidents caused because of it. The racing stopped after consistent action by the police and protests by the public.