Intoxication led to Mini Cooper accident, road had streetlights and warning signs, says report

KOCHI: The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) said the accident on the Nedumbassery airport road, which claimed the lives of three, was caused by the driver's alcohol consumption and over speeding. Biju Isaac, Ernakulam Enforcement Regional Transport Officer (RTO), has submitted a report in this regard to the transport commissioner.

The speed limit on the CIAL–Athani Expressway, where the accident occurred, is 60 kmph. However, the MVD's preliminary investigation report states that the accident was caused by the driver violating the speed limit and reckless driving. The report also clarifies that there were no defects in the road's design or lighting. Adequate warning signs had also been installed along the road.

The accident, which claimed three lives, happened Sunday early morning at around 1.30 am. The Mini Cooper, driven at excessive speed by a heavily intoxicated driver, crashed into a scooter. Suhail Sajeeb (19), who was driving the Mini Cooper, is presently remanded. Suhail, remanded by the magistrate on Sunday night, was Monday early morning shifted to Borstal School, a facility for offenders below the age of 21. The institution is a correctional school located adjacent to the Kakkanad District Jail.

The dead has been identified as Devika (Kukku, 21), daughter of Santhosh, a writer at Kalyana Mandiram Estate and a resident of Santhosh Bhavan, Madakkimala, Kalpetta, Wayanad, Gopika (22), daughter of M R Pradeep Kumar, an auto driver from Mullankuzhi House, Karimba, Nellatt, Idakkurussi, Mannarkkad, Palakkad, and Iyyas (21), son of Ibrahim of Kanakamanjal House, Coorg, Karnataka.