A motorcycle rider from Zuarinager was killed and a pillion rider was seriously injured, when their motorcycle and the official vehicle of InfoTech Corporation of Goa Chairman and Sanguem MLA Subash Phaldesai collided at Zuarinagar early Friday morning.
Phaldesai, who escaped unhurt in the mishap, was on his way to Dabolim airport to board a flight to Bangalore at 8.30 am. The MLA, however, abandoned his trip and rushed to the GMC to ascertain the condition of the two victims, one of them a foreign national. The deceased has been identified as Sunil Rathod (22) of Zuarinagar, while the foreign national has been identified as M Mathew, a member of a meditation group based at Zurinagar, Verna police told The Goan. The car driver, Prijesh Gaonkar (23) of Sanguem, was later arrested in this connection.
According to an unidentified eyewitness, the mishap took place as the government Toyota Innova car (GA-03-P-1582) was speeding from Verna towards Dabolim airport at about 7 am, while the motorcycle (GA-06-B-3613) was crossing the junction near MES College. “The impact was such that the bonnet of the government vehicle was badly damaged. The motorcycle rider received serious head injuries, while the pillion rider fractured a leg,” the eyewitness said.
Verna police received information about the accident at around 7.20 am and rushed to the site. A 108 ambulance was dispatched to shift the injured persons to GMC hospital. “Rathod was proceeding from MES College towards Zurinagar along with Mathew. While Rathod was trying to cross the junction near MES College, the government vehicle and the motorcycle collided with each other. The rider and the pillion rider were seriously injured in the mishap,” Verna PI Shailesh Narvekar told The Goan.
“Both injured persons were shifted to GMC hospital and Rathod died while undergoing treatment in the Causality Unit. The pillion rider sustained leg fractures and is undergoing medical treatment,” PI Narvekar added.
PI Narvekar confirmed that Gaonkar has been arrested under Sections 279, 338, 304A of IPC and added that Verna Police is investigating the case. Asked if the MLA had given any statement to the police regarding the incident, PI Narvekar replied in the negative.
Expressing shock over the fatal road mishap while he was proceeding in his official vehicle to Dabolim airport, InfoTech Corporation of Goa Chairman and Sanguem MLA Subash Phaldesai has initiated compensation to the bereaved family.
Speaking to The Goan, Phaldesai has, however, claimed that the motorcycle had been responsible for the mishap and added that his driver had taken all precaution to avert the mishap.
“I was proceeding from Verna to Dabolim airport at around 7 am as I had to board a flight for Bangalore at 8.30 am. When I reached the MES junction, a motorcycle which was proceeding along the other lane suddenly came into our road. Though there were road dividers, the motorcycle rider crossed over the dividers and came very close to our car,” said Phaldesai.
“My driver swerved the car to avert the accident and even rammed into the roadside divider, but he was unable to avoid the collision with the motorcycle. I immediately summoned a 108 ambulance to take them to the hospital. Later, I also waited for the police officials to complete their formalities,” he added. The MLA said he also visited the GMC hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured riders. “I later came to know that one of them had died while undergoing medical treatment,” said Phaldesai.
“I interacted with family members of the deceased and they fully cooperated with me. I have also initiated necessary compensation on humanitarian grounds for the bereaved family,” he added.
News Source : THE GOAN
