Mohali, Jan 6: A young student from Punjab lost his life in a road accident in Canada, with police still trying to piece together how he ended up on a busy highway.
Armaan Chauhan, 22, from Lalru Mandi in Mohali district, was killed on January 5 on Highway 401 in Ontario’s Krameh Township. He had been travelling from Montreal to Toronto with a friend when the incident took place.
According to the Ontario Provincial Police, a call was received about a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle in the westbound lane of the highway. “Officers located a vehicle stopped near the median upon arrival,” police said, adding that investigations are ongoing.
Police confirmed that Armaan was on foot at the time but said it is not yet clear how or why he was walking on the highway. CCTV footage from the area is being reviewed to establish whether the parked car was involved or if another passing vehicle struck him.
Emergency responders attempted to provide assistance, but Armaan had already succumbed to his injuries, police said.
The victim’s family, who live in Lalru, described him as their only son and said the loss has left them devastated. “We just want to know what really happened,” a relative said. “The investigation must be fair and complete.”
The family is also grappling with financial and procedural difficulties in arranging for Armaan’s body to be brought back to India.
Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage from Highway 401 around the time of the accident to contact authorities. The incident has renewed concerns among families in Punjab about the safety of Indian students pursuing education overseas.
