The rent-a-cab driven by a tourist involved in the accident.
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
In yet another road accident involving tourists in Goa, a 20-year-old student from Nagpur-Maharashtra crashed a rented cab into an oncoming scooter, injuring a woman and her minor son on Wednesday.
The accident occurred on a slope at Siolim-Marna at approximately 2.30 pm when the driver, in an attempt to overtake a truck at high speed, collided head-on with the scooter and dragged it for nearly seven metres.
The rented vehicle, bearing registration number GA-08-V-4959, was occupied by four young women and two men, all in their early twenties.
The impact of the crash left the front portion of the car completely smashed, while the scooter was also severely damaged.
The injured woman, identified as 45-year-old Berta Pereira, was riding with her 13-year-old son, a player for Dempo’s Under-13 football team.
Local residents rushed to the scene and provided immediate assistance, while some, angered by the recklessness of the tourists, allegedly assaulted the driver.
Eyewitnesses reported that the tourists attempted to flee after hitting the scooter but crashed into a truck ahead of them, preventing their escape.
Despite the severity of the incident, Anjuna Police reportedly delayed registering the case until after 8 pm, as a large group of locals gathered at the police station demanding strict action.
Tensions ran high as residents criticised the increasing number of accidents caused by reckless tourist drivers. They insisted on an alcohol test for the driver. However, the test results came negative.
The injured mother and son were initially treated at the Siolim Primary Health Centre, before being shifted to the district hospital in Mapusa for further medical attention.
Former Sarpanch Francis Fernandes, who was among the protestors at the police station, expressed frustration over the increasing number of road accidents caused by tourists.
“Our MV Act is not stringent enough against reckless drivers who cause accidents. Many Goans are losing their lives due to such negligence. The government insists we must respect tourists, but at what cost?” Fernandes questioned.
The driver, identified as Honey Lakhmichand Chawla (20) of Nagpur, Maharashtra, has been booked under Section 281 and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, along with Section 134(a) & (b) of the Motor Vehicles Act.
The incident has once again sparked concerns about road safety and the need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws in Goa, especially against reckless driving by tourists.
