Shubam’s bike caught under the wheels of the truck at Khel Gaon More in Ranchi. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Aug. 3: Juvenile lust for speed and reckless disregard for road safety has snuffed out a young life and left another at the mercy of fate here.

Sixteen-year-old Shubam Sahu, a Class XI commerce student of DAV Alok Public School, decided to bunk class along with his new friend Madhav Kumar (18), who had recently joined the cradle in the science stream, and indulge in amateur speed biking.

Around 7am on Tuesday, the boys set out on Shubam’s mean machine to conquer the inviting stretch of road near Khel Gaon. Helmets, however, were not on their list of must-haves for an impromptu adventure sport.

As worse as their road sense could get, the teenagers also chose the wrong lane for their bike stunt.

Around 10am at Khel Gaon More, the speeding students confronted a truck negotiating the bend and Shubam lost control of his bike, which rammed into the rear wheels of the heavy vehicle.

Eyewitnesses said the impact was so severe that the bike along with the boys were sucked under the wheels of the truck and dragged for a distance. They confirmed that the biker was reckless and the accident occurred even before the truck driver could apply brakes. “They were on the wrong lane and performing stunts without helmets,” said a witness.

While the impact of the collision killed Shubam — the only son of small-time Argora businessman Vinay Sahu — on the spot, Madhav is battling for life at the neurosurgery ward of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). He is yet to regain his senses.

Sadar police confirmed that the collision was severe and the bike was speeding in the wrong lane and the boys were without helmet.

“Before brakes could be applied, the bike came under the wheels of the truck,” a policeman taking the body for post-mortem said.

The police have, however, lodged an FIR, seized the truck and arrested its driver.

Shubam’s body was later handed over to his father.

The DAV school authorities have, meanwhile, termed the incident unfortunate and blamed parents for allowing minors to ride bikes.

Alok Kumar, managing trustee of the school, confirmed that both Shubam and Madhav hadn’t turned up at school. “They were in Class XI. Shubham is an old student, but Madhav joined our school just two days ago. We have to wait till tomorrow to check his residential details,” he said.

He added that despite circulars banning bikes and cellphones on campus, parents don’t care. “It is a lesson learnt the most unfortunate way.”