Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Feb 24: A 65-year-old tourist from Madhya Pradesh was killed after a rented Mahindra Thar SUV allegedly rammed into his car at a crossroad junction in Assagao, north Goa, on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Bhagat Sharma (65), a resident of Bhopal, who was holidaying in Goa. He was driving a Hyundai i20 when the allegedly speeding Thar, carrying a group of young tourists, crashed into his vehicle, leaving him critically injured.

Eyewitnesses said Sharma remained conscious immediately after the accident but had sustained severe head injuries. He was later shifted to a hospital in a private ambulance after the government emergency response ambulance reportedly took over an hour to reach the spot.

Sharma was travelling with a woman and a five-year-old child. While the woman suffered injuries, the child escaped unhurt.

Myron Fernandes, a local resident and eyewitness, said the Thar was being driven by a woman at the time of the accident. “The vehicle was speeding and crashed into the white hatchback. I helped the victims out. The elderly man had serious injuries, especially to his head and skull. The other occupant was injured too, but the baby was fine,” he said.

Fernandes further alleged that immediately after the crash, the woman shifted to the passenger seat and a male member of the group took over the driver’s seat, allegedly in an attempt to avoid accountability.

Police have registered a case of rash and negligent driving against the driver of the rented SUV. The vehicle has been seized and further investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the collision.