3 hurt as navy truck runs into city bus at Vasco

THE GOAN NETWORK

VASCO

A motorcycle rider, pillion rider and bus driver were injured, while passengers in the bus escaped unhurt in an accident involving a navy truck, a city bus, Power Minister Milind Naik's official car and a motorycle near Prince Bakery Headland Sada, Mormugao, on Monday.

The navy truck (00D133893KM) first collided with a city bus (GA-02-V-4461) and the impact was such that the bus was pushed almost 20 metres back, due to which the bus hit Mormugao MLA and Power Minister Milind Naik’s official car.

According to eye witness and former councillor Shanti Mandrekar, the incident took place as the bus was proceeding from Headland Sada junction towards Bogda, while the navy truck was on its way towards Headland Sada junction.

“On reaching near Prince Bakery, the navy truck banged against the bus and damaged its cabin. As a result of the mishap, the bus was pushed almost 20 metres back and struck the minister's official car,” informed Mandrekar.

“Luckily, the minister was not in the car at the time of the accident. The panic-stricken passengers jumped out of the bus,” added Mandrekar.

“The pillion rider, Puspalata Pednekar, who was also heading towards Bogda on a motorcycle (GA-06-C-5961) jumped off the vehicle and went underneath the bus and injured his leg further,” informed Mandrekar.

Mandrekar added that the motorcycle rider also jumped from the two-wheeler and injured his knee and the vehicle banged against the bus. “The bus driver escaped with minor injuries to his legs.”

When contacted, Mormugao Police said the navy driver had claimed that brakes had failed and that, he could not control the truck, which collided with the bus.

The police have registered an offence against the navy truck driver and is investigating the case.