A 19-year-old allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol rammed his Mini Cooper into a scooter near Cochin International Airport in Keralam in the early hours of Sunday, killing three people, police said.
All three worked at a handicrafts shop and were travelling on the scooter when the accident occurred. Eyewitnesses apprehended Sajeev and handed him over to the police. “Prima facie, the accused was drunk at the time. We have collected his blood and urine samples for confirmation. We will also check if he had consumed any narcotic substances. The Mini Cooper, reportedly speeding, rammed into the scooter from behind, throwing the three riders onto the road with great force. They were rushed to nearby hospitals but succumbed to their injuries. “All of us had stepped out at night to grab a cup of tea. The accident occurred while we were returning. Gopika and Ijas were on a scooter ahead of us, I and a friend, were on a two-wheeler behind While Devika. Suddenly, I saw this Mini Cooper drive past me at great speed. I had to move sideways to avoid being hit. Soon, I heard a big sound ahead of us. It was a turn and I saw my friends splayed out on the road.
The accused, identified as Suhail Sajeev, has been charged with culpable homicide, and police are investigating social media videos that purportedly show him driving at speeds exceeding 200 kmph on a highway. The deceased were identified as Devika (21), a resident of Wayanad, Gopika (22), from Palakkad, and Ijaz (21), a resident of Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka. The accident took place around 1.45 am on Sunday on the road leading to Cochin International Airport near Nedumbassery.
He has been charged with culpable homicide,” said KS Sudarshan, Superintendent of Police, Ernakulam Rural. Priyad, a fellow employee of the deceased who was present at the time of the accident, told reporters that the Mini Cooper was being driven beyond permissible limits. The Mini Cooper had rammed into it,” Priyad told reporters.
