the goan I network
MAPUSA
A plan to visit the feast of their favourite saint turned tragic for a Morjim family, after their car met in a head-on collision with a Maharashtra registered vehicle on the Siolim-Chopdem Bridge, early Sunday morning, killing the father-son duo.
Four other occupants of the car including the mother and daughter have been injured and are undergoing treatment at the Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim.
The son, Judas Fernandes (25) who was driving the car was killed on the spot, while his father, Joao Fernandes (62) died on the way to the hospital.
The mother, Milagrin Fernandes (48), daughter, Cynthia Monica (29) and their neighbours Sonia Lobo (22) and Elton Simoes (23) are being treated at GMC.
The family that hails from Vitaldas-vaddo, Morjim was on their way to attend an early morning mass on the occasion of the feast of St Anthony in Siolim church.
The accident occurred at around 6.45 am, when the Maharashtra registered Toyota Fortuner vehicle while speeding towards Morjim suddenly changed lane on the Siolim-Chopdem Bridge and rammed straight into the oncoming Maruti Swift vehicle carrying the Morjim family.
The impact of the crash was such that the bonnet of the Swift was completely mangled killing the driver on the spot.
The driver and four other occupants of the outstation Fortuner vehicle, some of whom had minor injuries, were immediately picked up by the police before a crowd
could gather on the spot.
As soon as the news of the accident spread a large number of locals began to gather on the bridge.
The situation soon turned tensed as incensed locals set the Maharashtra registered vehicle on fire and demanded from the police to bring the driver and other occupants of the outstation vehicle on the site.
With the crowd becoming restive, Anjun Police called for reinforcements even as Police Inspectors of Mapusa, Pernem, Old Goa and Coastal Police rushed to the spot.
North Goa SP, Chandan Chaudhary also reached at the site.
Bardez SDM, Mamlatdar, joint mamlatdars of Bardez and Pernem also rushed to the site to take care of any law and order problem.
Traffic along the Siolim-Chopdem Bridge came to a standstill as people refused the police to take possession of the body of one of the deceased lying on the bridge.
Angry locals jostled and heckled the police for trying to protect the occupants of the Maharashtra registered vehicle demanding to bring the driver of the vehicle before them.
Several locals alleged that the driver and the occupants of the outstation vehicle were allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
Finally, only after the administration assured the angry locals that strict action will be taken against the driver of the outstation vehicle that people allowed to take the body away at around noon and the traffic movement was restored along the bridge.
Anjuna PI, Navlesh Desai informed The Goan that the driver of the outstation Fortuner, Shekar Dubey (30) of Kalyan (W) Mumbai has been arrested and is in police custody.
“Medical examination of all the occupants of the outstation vehicle has been conducted. We have also sent blood samples for testing to identify if they were under the influence of alcohol,” Desai said.
The driver has been arrested under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 279 (rash and negligent driving) of the IPC.
Anjuna PI is investigating further.
AS IT HAPPENED...
Morjim family along with 2 neighbours proceed to attend St Anthony’s feast at Siolim early Sunday morning
As they reach the Siolim-Chopdem Bridge, Maharashtra registered Toyota Fortuner vehicle suddenly changes lane
Rams Maruti Swift vehicle carrying the Morjim family
Son Judas driving the car killed on the spot, father Joao dies on way to hospital
Mother, daughter & 2 neighbours being treated at GMC
Large crowd gathers, blocks bridge for over 4 hrs
SDM, Mamlatdar, SP rush to pacify crowd
Driver of Maharashtra registered vehicle arrested
