the goan I network
SANGUEM
The road mishap at Verna which claimed the lives of three minor boys has stunned people in different parts of the State, with many left wondering how could three minor boys have had access to the car and how could they have escaped the attention of traffic police and highway patrols for almost 40 kms.
The tragic mishap has shocked the twin towns of Curchorem and Sanguem, while people grieving over the loss of Std IX student Rowan Xavier Sequeira (14) of Pangulna-Sanguem and two SSC students Ethan Ivan Fernandes (15) and Joshua William Barreto (15) both from Curchorem.
While Rowan and Ethan were students of Guardian Angel High School in Curchorem, Joshua was studying at Kakodkar High School in Curchorem. All three boys were childhood friends and had known each other for a long time.
Incidentally, Rowan’s father is a driver of the higher secondary school bus at the same school where Rowan had studied.
Though Rowan hailed from Sanguem, he knew the other two boys as Rowan and his family also used to earlier reside at Curchorem and they had shifted to Sanguem some time ago.
Neighbours described Rowan as a soft-spoken person who had very few friends in the locality.
“Rowan was mostly found riding his bicycle and was not seen moving much with others. Rowan was polite and was a helpful young boy,” informed a neighbour.
According to sources, on the fateful day, Rowan’s mother had reportedly dropped him at their flat in Curchorem, from where Rowan had reportedly informed his mother that he had planned to go for a movie with his two friends.
Rowan’s mother dropped him at the flat and later proceeded for a Way of the Cross service at Rivona, while Rowan’s father was at their Sanguem house as he was reportedly not keeping well.
However on her return from the religious service, Rowan’s mother was informed about
the tragic demise of her son at Verna, leaving her in shock and inconsolable.
What prompted the three boys to drive such a long distance has remained a mystery, with speculations and rumours doing the rounds in Curchorem and Sanguem.
Questions are also being raised on how did the minor boys gain access to the car and drive the vehicle without a licence. Many people were also surprised that the minor boys not tracked by the Traffic Police and highway patrols, despite having covered a distance of over 40 kms along the main roads.
“On any given day, police are located in at least 3-4 spots along the road between Curchorem and Sanguem, to intercept traffic violators and to issue challans,” said a local.
There were also several debates on social media on how the minor boys were allowed to drive the car without a driving license, buy much of the criticism was aimed at the police for having failed to notice the minor boys in the car.
“The place where the teenagers met with the fatal mishap is largely frequented by youth with their bikes and four-wheelers. Even though this fact is known to the police, there have not been sufficient checks on incidents taking place at the site,” remarked another local.
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on Curchorem and Sanguem town as a large number of friends, relatives and neighbours were seen flocking to the Rowan’s house in Sanguem, when his body was brought home in the evening.
