An Air Force officer was run over by a speeding Audi in Kolkata early on Wednesday, as rehearsals for the Republic Day parade were being held. The incident took place on the city’s Red Road (pictured above), which is usually closed to civilian traffic during these rehearsals, PTI reported.

Corporal Abhimanyu Gaud was the Air Force drill instructor supervising the parade. The car raced towards him, knocked him off his feet and continued to speed till it hit a barricade, a defence official said. He was taken to a military hospital, but declared dead on arrival.

The official added that the driver fled the accident site. Police have seized the car and an investigation has been launched.