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- Three killed in Mini Cooper crash near Cochin Airport.
- 19-year-old driver allegedly intoxicated, charged with homicide.
- Police investigating driver's history of reckless driving.
Keralam: Three people were killed in the early hours of Sunday after a Mini Cooper, allegedly driven by an intoxicated 19-year-old, rammed into their scooter from behind on the road leading to Cochin International Airport in Keralam.
The victims have been identified as Devika (21) from Wayanad, Gopika (22) from Palakkad, and Ijaz (21) from Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka. All three were travelling on the scooter and worked at a local handicrafts store.
The driver of the Mini Cooper, identified as 19-year-old Suhail Sajeev, was apprehended by eyewitnesses at the scene and handed over to the police.
Speeding Car Rams Into Scooter From Behind
According to police officials cited by Hindustan Times, the accident occurred around 1:45 AM near Nedumbassery. The speeding car allegedly struck the scooter from behind, causing the two-wheeler riders to hit the road with great force. While they were rushed to a nearby hospital, all of them succumbed to their injuries.
"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. He has been charged with culpable homicide," Superintendent of Police (Ernakulam Rural) KS Sudarshan told Hindustan Times.
Eyewitness Details Terrifying Crash
Priyad, a co-worker who was travelling on a scooter behind the victims, described the sequence of events.
"All of us had stepped out at night to grab a cup of tea. The accident occurred while we were returning. While Devika, Gopika and Ijas were on a scooter ahead of us, my friend and I were on a two-wheeler behind. 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 Mini Cooper had rammed into it," Priyad said.
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Police Verify Social Media For History Of Reckless Driving
Investigators are currently examining the accused's digital footprint, including Instagram videos that allegedly show Suhail driving the Mini Cooper beyond 200 km/h on a highway. Authorities are verifying social media handles and analysing CCTV footage around the spot to determine if the driver has a history of rash and negligent driving.
"Prima facie, it looks like he has a history of rash driving. We are verifying Instagram videos as well as footage from CCTV cameras at the spot. Forensic examination of the vehicle is also being done to look for traces of drugs," the Rural SP stated.