PANAJI
Three persons were killed and six others injured, two of them critically, when a speeding Mercedes SUV crashed into multiple cars and bikes on the busy Banastarim bridge late Sunday night.
The ghastly accident occurred around 8 pm when the Mercedes was speeding along the wrong side and rammed into the three oncoming cars. Two bikes were also knocked down in the accident.
Police reached the site and immediately restored one side of the bridge for traffic movement before conducting the panchanama.
The driver of the Mercedes, according to an eyewitness account, is absconding.
The injured were rushed to the Goa Medical College and hospital at Bambolim where they are undergoing treatment. Two of them are said to be in critical condition.
The bodies of the three dead victims -- Suresh Phadte (58) and Bhavana Fadte (52) from Divar and Arup Karmakar (26) from Bhandora -- have also been taken to the GMC where an autopsy examination is due to be conducted on them.
Eye witnesses at the scene of the accident said they suspect the Mercedes' driver to have been in an inebriated condition as liquor bottles were found in the car.
He got out of the car and fled from there after the accident, they said, adding that among the dead was a couple and a third person who got flung off the bridge and into the river below.
An important link between Ponda and North Goa, Banstarim bridge is often congested with traffic. Police on arrival at the scene got on with the task of restoring one side so that vehicle movement could continue, before conducting the panchanama formalities.
Anger and contempt for the Mercedes driver was high among the locals and passersby in the area who had rushed to site and assisted the injured.
"Luxury car owners drive rashly and at high speed. Lives of three innocent, common people have been taken. Strictest action has to be taken against this careless driver," said an elderly man who resides in the area.
