The crash was so severe that the vehicle was dragged nearly 30 metres along the divider.
The accident took place around 1pm near Bhatouli Mafi village, under the jurisdiction of Sandi police station in Hardoi district, at kilometre marker 317 of the Ganga Expressway, around 40km from the district headquarters.
Saurabh, Menaka and their elder son, Vyom, had died on the spot, police said. Following information about the accident, police teams from Sandi, Bilgram and Harpalpur police stations rushed to the spot. Rescue personnel retrieved their bodies from the wreckage, while the critically injured toddler was rushed to a nearby Community Health Centre (CHC). Doctors and medical staff attempted to revive him through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but their efforts failed and he was declared dead. The bodies were subsequently taken into custody for legal formalities and post-mortem examinations. Police are examining the circumstances leading to the accident, including how the SUV went out of control and crashed into the divider. Further details about the cause of the accident are awaited.
Family was heading to Prayagraj for festivities
The deceased were identified as Saurabh Upadhyay (40), vice-chairman of a Noida-based IT company, his wife Menaka Upadhyay (35), and their sons Vyom (7) and Shivom (18 months). The family originally hailed from Prayagraj and was travelling from Noida to their native place to celebrate Bhai Dooj and Chhath with relatives. The family had been looking forward to the festive celebrations when the accident cut short their journey. The accident has left both sides of the family devastated, as all four members travelling in the SUV perished in the crash.