Three young students were killed after a speeding Mini Cooper allegedly rammed into their scooter near Cochin International Airport in Kerala’s Ernakulam district in the early hours of Sunday.
The driver, identified as 19-year-old Suhail Sajeev, was taken into custody following the crash and has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Police are also investigating whether he was under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances at the time of the accident. His blood and urine samples have been collected and the test results are awaited.
Accident Took Place Near Nedumbassery
The crash occurred at around 1:45 am near Nedumbassery, on a road leading towards Cochin International Airport.
The victims were identified as Devika, 21, from Wayanad; Gopika, 22, from Palakkad; and Ijaz, 21, from Karnataka.
All three were travelling on the same scooter after stepping out for tea with colleagues. They were also working part-time at a handicrafts establishment.
According to police, the Mini Cooper struck their scooter from behind at high speed, throwing the riders onto the road.
They were rushed to nearby hospitals but could not be saved.
‘My Father Will Handle Everything,’ Witnesses Claim Driver Said
The crash attracted further attention after eyewitnesses alleged that Suhail told people who confronted him after the accident that his father would “take care of everything”.
A colleague of the victims who witnessed the crash said the Mini Cooper had passed his motorcycle at high speed moments before hitting the scooter travelling ahead of him.
The alleged remark has been reported by witnesses and has not been established as part of any court finding.
Driver Booked for Culpable Homicide
Ernakulam Rural Superintendent of Police K S Sudarshan said Suhail has been booked for culpable homicide and that investigators are examining multiple aspects of the crash.
Police have invoked Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Investigators are analysing CCTV footage from the area to establish the speed of the vehicle and reconstruct the moments leading up to the collision.
Police Suspect Alcohol Consumption
Police said preliminary findings suggested that Suhail may have been intoxicated at the time of the crash.
During questioning, he allegedly told investigators that he had consumed beer before driving.
However, police stressed that whether he was under the influence of alcohol or any other substance can only be conclusively established after laboratory reports are received.
His blood and urine samples have been sent for testing.
Mini Cooper Under Forensic Examination
Police are also conducting a forensic examination of the Mini Cooper.
Investigators are checking the car for traces of intoxicating substances and assessing the vehicle as part of the wider investigation.
Police are additionally examining social-media videos allegedly showing Suhail driving the same vehicle at extremely high speeds on earlier occasions.
“Prima facie, it looks like he has a history of rash driving,” SP Sudarshan said, adding that the videos and CCTV footage were being verified.
Car Registered in Father’s Name
According to police, the Mini Cooper is registered in Suhail’s father’s name.
Suhail holds a valid driving licence, investigators said.
Reports also indicate that the luxury car had recently been given to him by his family, though the circumstances surrounding its ownership are not central to the criminal investigation.
Victims’ Friends Allegedly Attack Driver at Hospital
In a separate incident following the crash, some friends of the victims allegedly confronted Suhail when police took him to a hospital for medical examination.
Police said he was struck on the head from behind while being escorted outside the hospital.
Officers intervened to prevent the situation from escalating and detained one person in connection with the alleged assault.
The incident is being dealt with separately from the fatal road crash.
CCTV Captures Impact
Television footage and CCTV visuals from the area show the Mini Cooper travelling at high speed before crashing into the scooter from behind.
The force of the collision threw the riders onto the road and left the scooter badly mangled.
The Mini Cooper also suffered significant front-end damage.
Police are using the footage, vehicle examination and medical reports to determine the precise speed of the car, whether the driver was intoxicated and the sequence of events immediately before the collision.
Police to Strengthen Patrolling Near Airport
Following the deaths, police said patrolling and enforcement against speeding would be strengthened around the airport and surrounding roads.
The investigation remains underway, with authorities awaiting toxicology reports and the findings of the forensic examination before reaching final conclusions on intoxication and other circumstances surrounding the crash.
