PANAJI
In a chilling replay of last year’s Banastarim accident, a midnight collision on the Old Mandovi Bridge claimed one life and left two others critically injured. The incident occurred when three labourers – hired by the contractors of the Public Works Department to repair potholed roads – were filling the potholes under the high-beam lights.
Sanket Shet, the driver of the Celerio GA-05-F-6447, was detained shortly after the accident and placed under arrest for drunken driving, rash driving and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Medical tests revealed that his blood alcohol content was well above the permissible limit.
The force of the impact was devastating. Angry eye-witnesses described the scene as harrowing with the victims’ limbs grotesquely contorted from the crash. The accident scene was chaotic with bloodstains all over and passersby frantically tried to contact the ambulance and police for help.
Amit Yadav, 24, was reportedly dragged for 30 meters before his body slammed into a jet patcher machine parked on the bridge for the works. Yadav succumbed to head injuries. The other two victims, Dhiraj Sharma and Abharai Nirmal, both from Uttar Pradesh, sustained multiple fractures.
Police sources revealed to The Goan that the accused driver, a Volvoi resident holding a senior position at a casino had just finished his shift before heading to Miramar for a late-night drink. He then made his way to Porvorim claiming he was hungry before heading home. It was during this return journey that he collided with the three labourers.
When interrogated by the Panaji police after undergoing medical tests, Shet couldn’t provide a satisfactory explanation for why he bypassed several open eateries in Miramar only to travel all the way to Porvorim. “He kept insisting that he simply fell asleep,” the source disclosed.
Amid allegations of a delayed police response, sources asserted that they acted swiftly. “We got the call at around 1:34 am and were at the scene by 1:48 am,” he stated adding, “Two Pink Force vehicles were already there. The head constable on duty immediately rushed the car driver to Goa Medical College for tests, which confirmed the driver was drunk.”
However, the timeline paints a grim picture as while the police vans were at the scene, the ambulance reportedly arrived even later. The victims were thereafter rushed to the hospital where one succumbed and the other two are still critical. The source said their statements will be recorded after doctors’ advice.
Offense against drunken driver: Section 281 (rash driving), 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 125 (a) and (b) (endangering life or personal safety of others) ---- (a) where hurt is caused, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both; (b) where grievous hurt is caused, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.
The accused will be tried before the Sessions Court as against other minor accidents which are referred to judicial magistrate first class.
