India

18‑Year‑Old Arrested After Speeding Toyota Innova Hits More Than a Dozen Vehicles on 8‑km Drive

By PTI

An 18‑year‑old named Gokul was arrested after the Toyota Innova he had hired from Thiruvalla drove at high speed for nearly eight kilometres, colliding with more than a dozen vehicles. Police said the driver was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or narcotic drugs, though this had not yet been confirmed. The incident began when the car, with a burst tyre, struck a scooter ridden by 21‑year‑old Nanditha in Mundukotta, Paippad. Nanditha was returning home from work at a private hospital in Thiruvalla and sustained serious injuries to her hands and legs, for which she was admitted to a private hospital. The driver continued to speed through Thrikodithanam toward Thengana, and at Kannottu the vehicle rammed into six more vehicles. Despite the tyre burst, the car kept moving, sending sparks as the damaged tyre scraped the road. Residents chased the vehicle and eventually stopped it, alerting the Thrikodithanam police who took Gokul into custody. The series of collisions caused significant traffic congestion in the area. The incident follows a recent pattern of reckless driving by young motorists in Kerala, including a minor’s accident in Cheranalloor and a 19‑year‑old’s crash involving a Mercedes‑Benz and a Mini Cooper in Nedumbassery.