A 65-year-old who was on vacation in Goa died in a road collision with a rented Mahindra Thar SUV. The incident occurred in North Goa’s Assagao on Monday, when a speeding Thar collided with the rear end of a family’s hatchback near Happy Bar Junction. The victim has been identified as Bhagatram Sharma from Bhopal, who was on a vacation with family members and travelling in an i20 car.
Sharma was declared dead at the scene due to serious injuries sustained during the crash. Two other people sitting in a hatchback were taken to the hospital for minor injuries and are reported in stable condition currently. The five-month-old travelling with the family was unharmed.
As per the police, the Thar was rented. Eyewitnesses reportedly claimed that occupants of the speeding Thar tried to switch seats immediately after the accident.
Video Of Accident Goes Viral
The video of the incident going viral shows a male occupant of the Thar talking on the phone. He can be heard saying, ‘Papa mai Chaurahe par tha’ (Papa, I was at the intersection...) before the audio fades. The women passengers are visible on the rear seat of the Thar. The eyewitnesses reportedly alleged that the Thar occupants tried to shield the driver from the responsibility. The driver was reportedly a woman.
While officials are investigating the claims of driver switching made by eyewitnesses, a case for rash and negligent driving has been registered. The vehicle has been seized, and a thorough check of CCTV footage is underway to ascertain who was driving the car at the time of the accident.
Police said it will consider forensic evidence, statements of eyewitnesses and CCTV footage to ascertain who was driving the car.