String of accidents by 15-year-old boy driving Innova car in Kochi; MVD, police to take strict action

KOCHI: The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) and the police are likely to take strict action in the recent string of accidents involving an Innova car driven by a 15-year-old boy in broad daylight. The RC of the vehicle will be cancelled for a year. He will not be issued a license until he turns 25. An aged woman who was waiting for a bus on the roadside was injured in the accident. The boy's father and RC owner, Abdul Rasheed, should bear the medical expenses of her. The police and MVD have directed Abdul Rasheed to pay other compensation.

The filmy-style scenes happened on the Vypeen-Munambam state highway and the container road Saturday morning. Son of Abdul Rasheed of Kaloor, who runs a supermarket in Ernakulam, studying in class 10, caused several accidents by driving the car. The boy had taken his father's Innova Crysta car without his consent to go to Cherai beach with his classmates.

The series of accidents began when he hit a Honda City at Chathangad beach on the way back from Cherai beach. The boy got scared and fled without stopping his vehicle. With this, the people of the car chased the boy on a Duke bike. When reached Kuzhuppilly area, he hit the side of a private bus plying on the Paravur-Ernakulam route. The paint of the bus had gone.

Meanwhile, the bike that was chasing the Crysta tried to stop the vehicle by going around it but hit the bike as well. The Crysta then hit an aged woman identified as Komalam (76) of Thamaravattom, who was waiting for the bus at the stop near Edavanakad High School. She was first taken to a private hospital and then at the Ernakulam General Hospital with injuries. Her injuries are stated to be serious. Two others suffered minor injuries.

Shijoy of Edavanakkad, who witnessed the accident, informed the Njarackal police and when they tried to stop the car in front of the station, he quickly fled. The police then followed him and took him into custody from Goshree Bridge Saturday morning by 9.30.

The police had registered a case against the boy's father. The case is for allowing the minor to drive the car. The boy was released along with his guardian. Meanwhile, the boy’s father said that he was unwell and was resting at home and didn’t know that his son knew driving. The boy’s statement is that he learned driving with the help of his classmates’ cars.