Tempo driver gets 15 days in jail nine years after accident

Panaji: Nine years after a tempo driver knocked down a scooterist, causing grievous injuries, a Mapusa court sentenced the driver to 15 days’ imprisonment.

The accident took place on March 20, 2016, at Nagoa circle when the tempo, travelling from Saligao to Arpora, dashed into an Activa scooter which was proceeding from Mapusa to Calangute.

The court directed the driver, Rohan Korgaonkar, to pay compensation of Rs 30,000 to the injured Santosh Kinlekar within 30 days and also fined him Rs 1,800.

“The accused is a driver of a passenger bus and when driving on a public road is duty-bound to take proper precaution. He breached the duty in a casual manner, which resulted in causing grievous hurt to the scooter rider. Therefore, the accused is not entitled to the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act,” stated Judicial Magistrate First Class, ‘B’ Court, Mapusa, Suman C Gad.

“The evidence of the prosecution witnesses appears truthful, worthy of credence and inspires confidence,” the court stated. It added that there was nothing on record to support the defence of the driver that the scooter was negligent and dashed against his vehicle.

The position of the vehicles and the presence of sketch/skid marks from the accident spot itself proves rash and negligent driving of the driver, the court held.

The victim suffered grievous injuries due to the rash and negligent driving of the accused. He was operated on twice for the same head injury and was admitted for 12 days.