Indian-origin student dies in 'freak' car crash

London, Mar 20: In a freak accident, a 20-year-old Indian-origin law student was killed in a car crash when he went for a drive after dinner.

Rakesh Joshi died when his Vauxhall Corsa crashed half a mile from his family home in Cheam, on the outskirts of London. Joshi had gone out for a drive after a meal with his parents.

A student of law at the University of East Anglia in the east of England, he had returned to spend the weekend with his family which included mother Nutan, 56, and younger sister Ipsa, 17.

"He had his dinner, stood up and said he was going for a drive. I thought to myself what a fine young man he is," his distraught father Dilip Joshi told 'Evening Standard' newspaper.

"It was a freak accident. He may have swerved out of the way of a fox. We just don't know what happened. The fact he came home, had his favourite food and we saw him for the first time this term — it helps us.

"But no father should have to arrange his son's funeral," he said. Local police are appealing for witnesses to the crash in Sutton that occurred on Saturday.

Joshi, who was called 'Rak' by friends, had won a scholarship to the prestigious King's College School in South London and played prop forward in the First XV rugby team. He was voted Player of the Year in his final season.

Friends gathered at the devoutly Hindu family's home yesterday for prayers in his memory. Andrew Halls, the student's former school headteacher, said:

"He was very warm, very friendly. He was a positive spirit in his year. It just seems extremely sad that all that life force has disappeared." University friends paid tribute on social media, with housemate Grace Carrick saying:

"I'm so honoured and grateful I got to know Rak over the last six months and I still can't comprehend that it's all over. It's not ever going to be the same without you around."

PTI