Four members of a family, including a couple, were killed and five others seriously injured after their multi-utility vehicle (MUV) collided with a stationary truck on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district, police said on Saturday. The accident took place near Kajliya Pada during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

According to Shivgarh SHO Ranjit Makwana, the family was travelling to Rajasthan’s Khatu Shyam temple when their vehicle crashed into the parked truck. The injured were rushed for medical treatment, while police are investigating the circumstances leading to the fatal collision, PTI reported.

The deceased were identified as Jatin (34), his wife Lisha (30), and two others, Paipi (35) and Ranu (35). The victims were residents of Dhar and Indore districts, the police officer said.

Five other travellers, including the MUV (Multi-Utility Vehicle) driver, were injured and taken to Ratlam Medical College and Hospital, he said.

The impact of the collision was so severe that the vehicle was badly mangled and the occupants were trapped inside. Police and an ambulance from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) reached the spot after receiving information and carried out rescue operations.

“All those travelling in the car (MUV) belonged to the same family and were on their way to Rajasthan’s Khatu Shyam temple,” Makwana said.

The truck had been parked on the roadside after developing a mechanical fault, he said. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the accident.

Earlier this month, a speeding Ford Endeavour rammed into a vehicle near Jharsa Chowk on Thursday, triggering traffic disruptions and a nearly 4-km-long tailback on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, police said. According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred around 1:30 pm when the white Endeavour reportedly suffered a sudden mechanical failure, causing the driver to lose control. The SUV then crashed into a Tata Magic travelling ahead.

The impact severely damaged the front portion of the Endeavour. Both vehicles came to a halt in the middle of the carriageway, obstructing traffic and leading to congestion on the busy expressway, officials and eyewitnesses said.