Kochi: Three students were killed after a speeding Mini Cooper allegedly driven by an intoxicated 19-year-old rammed into their scooter near Kochi airport in Kerala’s Ernakulam district at around 2 am on Sunday. The car driver, identified as Suhail Sajeev, was taken into custody following the crash.
A video purportedly showing the collision has gone viral on social media, drawing attention to the fatal accident and the dangers of reckless driving.
The three victims have been identified as Devika, a native of Wayanad, Gopika, a native of Palakkad, and Ijaz, a native of Karnataka. They were reportedly returning home after having tea at a nearby shop when the accident occurred.
Scooter hit while travelling along the roadside
According to the available information, the scooter was travelling along the extreme left side of the wide road when the Mini Cooper allegedly approached at excessive speed and rammed into it.
Reports stated that the luxury hatchback was travelling at around 125 kmph at the time of the collision. The impact left all three students critically injured.
Local residents and eyewitnesses rushed to their assistance and arranged for them to be taken to a hospital. However, all three succumbed to their injuries.
The accident occurred during the early hours of Sunday, when the three students were returning from a nearby tea shop. Further details about their circumstances and the events leading up to the collision are part of the investigation.
Driver taken into custody
The Nedumbassery Airport police took Sajeev into custody following the accident and registered a case under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
According to preliminary police findings, the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Ernakulam Rural Superintendent of Police K S Sudarsan told reporters that a forensic examination of the car was also under way to determine whether any intoxicating substances were found inside the vehicle.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the vehicle’s speed and the driver’s condition at the time of the accident.
Driver reportedly confronted by residents
According to reports, local residents and eyewitnesses confronted the driver at the scene following the collision. Sajeev allegedly made remarks suggesting that his father would take care of the situation.
The reported exchange drew further attention to the incident, although the exact circumstances and context of the statements would need to be established independently.
The crash has also prompted scrutiny of the circumstances under which the vehicle was being driven and the alleged role of intoxication and excessive speed in the deaths of the three students.
Driver attacked at hospital
In a separate development, Sajeev was reportedly attacked by a group of young people at a hospital in Aluva while police were escorting him out after a mandatory medical examination.
Police personnel intervened to prevent further attacks and moved him away from the hospital premises to ensure his safety.
The incident added another development to the case, with police having to manage the situation while keeping the accused in custody.
Investigation underway
The police investigation is continuing, with the forensic examination of the Mini Cooper among the steps being taken to establish the circumstances of the accident.
The case has resulted in the deaths of three young students who were reportedly returning home after a routine outing. Investigators will need to establish the sequence of events, the driver’s condition and other relevant evidence before the case proceeds further.
The incident underscores the potentially fatal consequences of excessive speed and driving under the influence. The findings of the ongoing investigation will be crucial in determining the circumstances that led to the collision and the legal responsibility of those involved.