Behind a growing number of headline-making accidents in Goa lies a common thread -- high-powered vehicles. From rented Thars to luxury BMWs and a Lamborghini, several major crashes reported since February involved vehicles capable of extraordinary speed, often under circumstances that police claim point to recklessness or impaired driving.
At least 10-12 major accidents involving premium or high-value vehicles have been reported for over four months, several resulting in deaths and critical injuries.
The Mahindra Thar, marketed as an adventure vehicle, has figured repeatedly in some of the State’s most serious crashes this year.
The first major case that captured national attention came in February, when a rented Thar allegedly driven by 19-year-old Delhi resident Shaurya Goyal rammed into a Hyundai i20 during a road rage incident, killing an elderly man.
Since then, the vehicle has appeared with alarming frequency in accident reports.
In May, 32-year-old Sanket Dabholkar was killed in Siolim after a Thar, allegedly being operated as an illegal rental vehicle and reportedly driven by a tourist under the influence of alcohol, crashed head-on into his scooter. The impact proved fatal.
Two separate fatal accidents involving Thars followed within 24 hours in Vasco. In the first case, the alleged drunk Thar driver collided with a scooter, resulting in the rider’s death. The next day, another speeding Thar allegedly knocked down pedestrian Genadevi Jaiswar at Mangor Hill. She later succumbed to head injuries.
Another Thar from Maharashtra became the centre of a hit-and-run investigation near Margao after a local woman riding a scooter was left critically injured. Police tracked down the fleeing driver through CCTV footage and invoked an attempt to murder charge.
Days later, a young woman lost her life in Morjim in a multi-vehicle collision involving a Thar, a tempo rickshaw and a two-wheeler.
The trail of destruction extended beyond Goa’s borders as well. On Monday, three members of a Guirim family, including a panch member, died in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district after their speeding Thar reportedly lost control on a ghat section of the Mumbai-Goa highway.
But the pattern has not been confined to Thars alone.
In April, a 23-year-old woman was killed and her colleague seriously injured at Dona Paula when a newly purchased Mini Cooper, allegedly driven by a businessman’s son, crashed into their two-wheeler from behind. The impact flung the vehicle dozens of metres and led to the driver's arrest.
Luxury cars, too, have featured prominently, raising questions about driving culture among owners of powerful vehicles.
In May, Panaji police arrested 27-year-old Jagdish Sardessai after his BMW crashed into multiple vehicles while he was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. CCTV footage showed the luxury sedan veering across lanes before colliding with parked vehicles and an oncoming car. Legal action was taken, as in other cases, too.
Last week, another BMW sports car, reportedly travelling at high speed, mounted a roundabout between the Goa University junction and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, narrowly avoiding what could have been a far more serious tragedy.
On Sunday, a Lamborghini entered the growing list of high-profile accidents after allegedly colliding with another vehicle and dragging it along the road, leaving a senior citizen injured.
Officials in the Traffic Cell revealed records wherein many cases comprised allegations of rash driving, excessive speed, alcohol consumption or attempts to evade responsibility after collisions. In several instances, the vehicles were either rented or being used by visitors unfamiliar with local roads.
