Drunk Thar driver crashes into scooter in Siolim, rider dies

Panaji/Mapusa: A 29-year-old Kerala native, Yadukrishnan S Sajaikumar, allegedly drove a Mahindra Thar in a rash and negligent manner, under the influence of alcohol, and collided head-on with a two-wheeler. The rider later succumbed to injuries.

PI Anjuna Krishna Sinari said that at around 6am, Anjuna police station got an accident call, and police team reached the spot at Siolim. “The accident was between a Mahindra Thar and a scooter. The scooter rider succumbed to his injuries, while the pillion rider was injured,” Sinari said.

Anjuna ASI Krishna Naik in his complaint, on behalf of the state, said that Yadukrishnan despite knowing that driving under the influence of alcohol could cause an accident resulting in death or grievous injuries to other road users, drove the vehicle under the influence of alcohol and collided with a two-wheeler near Villa Antiga, Fernandes Waddo, Siolim.

Police said Yadukrishnan drove his vehicle in a rash and negligent manner, endangering human life, and when he reached near Siolim, crossed his lane and dashed an oncoming two-wheeler, which 34-year-old Sanket Dabholkar was riding with 14-year-old Nischal Morajkar as pillion rider, who sustained grievous injuries.

Sinari said Dabholkar succumbed to his injuries on the way to the District Hospital, Mapusa, whereas Morajkar is undergoing treatment.

“Yadukrishnan has been arrested in the case,” the PI said, adding that after the accident Yadukrishnan was sent for medical test and doctors confirmed that he was under the influence of alcohol.

The Kerala native has been staying in Goa and working since 2022.

This tragedy marks the second major accident involving a tourist-driven Mahindra Thar in Goa within just three days. In a hit-and-run case in Sirlim, Margao, a speeding Thar from Maharashtra critically injured a local woman rider, prompting police to slap an attempt-to-murder charge on that driver.