SANGUEM
A Goa Police Scorpio travelling from Panaji towards Sanguem reportedly went off the road near the Sanguem-Curchorem border, crashed through a laterite stone wall and dragged a parked van for nearly three metres.
According to information available, the police vehicle was allegedly travelling at high speed shortly before the accident. The exact circumstances leading to the crash have not yet been officially established.
The impact reportedly caused the Scorpio to jump over the laterite stone wall before striking and dragging the parked van. An investigation is underway to ascertain how the accident occurred.
Locals said there were no people standing outside nearby shops when the accident occurred. They claimed that customers had left an ice-cream parlour only a few minutes before the crash, raising concerns about what could have happened had people been present outside.
The incident has raised concerns among residents over whether traffic and road-safety norms were followed by the police personnel involved.
Local resident Rupesh Sanguemkar said that while police vehicles may need to respond promptly to official duties, they must be operated with due regard for public safety.
Sanguemkar called for a departmental inquiry to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident. He also questioned why a medical examination of the personnel involved was reportedly not conducted, saying such an examination could help establish through proper procedure whether there was any possibility of driving under the influence.
The exact cause of the accident, including the allegation of high-speed driving and whether any safety or procedural violations occurred, remains to be established through an appropriate inquiry.
