SUV Driver Arrested in Death of 114-Year-Old Marathoner Fauja Singh

CHANDIGARH:

Punjab Police on Tuesday night arrested the driver of the SUV that fatally struck veteran marathoner Fauja Singh in Jalandhar district. The 114-year-old athlete, widely celebrated as the world’s oldest marathon runner, died on Monday after being hit on a highway near his native village of Bias.

A senior police official confirmed on Wednesday that the accused, 26-year-old Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a resident of Dasupur in Kartarpur, was taken into custody and his vehicle was seized as part of the ongoing investigation.

According to officials, Dhillon was driving from Bhogpur to Kishahgarh on Monday when he allegedly lost control of his SUV and ran over Singh, who was walking along the roadside. The accident took place on the national highway of one of the villages where the legendary athlete was born and lived his last years.

The abrupt death of Fauja Singh has created a procession of bereavement in India as well as in the world. Having a reputation of breaking age and physical boundaries, Singh became famous globally as he successfully ran his first marathon at the age of 89. He even went on to take part in big marathons globally such as the one in London, Toronto and New York which made millions of people perceive his ability to grow and continue with his discipline.

Although Singh formally ended his competitive running career in 2013 at the age of 102, he was still active in his society and was regarded as an object of healthy ageing and a role model in his resilience.

“We have arrested the accused and initiated proceedings under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including causing death by negligence,” said a senior official from the Jalandhar (Rural) police. “The vehicle has been impounded, and we are conducting a forensic examination to determine the exact circumstances of the crash.”

Local residents and eyewitnesses told police that Singh had stepped out for a routine morning walk when the SUV hit him. He was taken into a local hospital where he was found dead upon arrival.

Tributes have been coming in hues to the centenarian athlete hailing in different corners of the country. Political leaders and Sports organisations have lamented the death of the sports man who broke stereotypes concerning age and sporting. Members of the Indian diaspora have also lamented.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a message posted on X, described Singh as “an extraordinary figure whose life embodied discipline, courage, and unwavering spirit.” Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also paid tribute, calling Singh “a son of Punjab who made the state and the nation proud.”

The final rites of Fauja Singh are expected to take place later this week in his native village, where preparations are under way for a funeral that is likely to draw admirers and dignitaries from far and wide.