Businessman, baby killed on way to Shirdi to pay respects for a son

In a tragic twist of fate, a 28-year-old businessman, who was on his way to the Sai Baba temple in Shirdi to give votive offerings after his wife gave birth to a son, was killed along with the 8-month-old boy after their car turned turtle on the Shirdi-Nashik highway near Sinnar village.

Laukhush Yadav, 28, owner of the famous Krishna Dairy in Bhayander's Naramada Nagar and a businessman, was on his way to Shirdi with his son and family members in an XUV from home in Cabin Road, Bhayander, last Saturday. When they reached Sinnar village, the driver took a sharp turn at very high speed and the car turned turtle, killing Yadav and his son instantly, while his wife and 5 others sustained severe injuries.

"A 23-year-old hired by the family was driving the car. While they have a 4-year-old girl, the family wanted a baby boy. Eight months back, Lavkhush's wife gave birth to a boy. They had vowed to visit Shirdi to pay their respects if their wish was fulfilled. The family is in a state of trauma now," said a family friend of Yadav.

"I was sitting on the front seat with the seat belt tied. As soon as the car turned turtle I managed to save myself but was unconscious for some time. When I came to my senses, I saw my relatives bleeding profusely. The driver too was unconscious state. But my brother and his son were lying beside each other and weren't breathing," said Santosh Yadav, Laukhush's cousin.

"Our family is still in the state of shock. We are not sure if it was our destiny or the driver who was driving on high speed while taking a sharp turn," he added.