Vadakkanchery accident: Bus driver flees from hospital, HC takes suo moto case

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has taken a suo moto case in the accident that killed nine people at Vadakancherry in Palakkad. Justice Devan Ramachandran asked who gave the fitness certificate to the flash lights and the sound systems used in the vehicle which has been banned by the court. The case will be considered at 1.45 pm today. The court has sought a report from the police and the motor vehicle department over the accident.

Meantime, it has been alleged that the driver of the tourist bus fled from the hospital. Jomon, the driver of the luminous bus, escaped from Vadakkanchery E K Nayanar Hospital. He sought treatment from the hospital in the name of Jojo Pathrose. He left the hospital after one and a half hours. The injured Jomon was brought to the hospital by the police around 3:30 in the morning. He was not seriously injured. The X-ray taken showed no fracture. The hospital authorities suspect that after primary treatment, he may have left with those believed to be the owners of the bus. When the nurse asked him, Joemon replied that he was a teacher. The driver and conductor of the KSRTC bus alleged that the tourist bus was over speeded. The GPS records recovered from the bus showed that the speed of the bus was 97.7 kmph at the time of the accident.