The fancy of a minor boy to drive a commercial vehicle cost a life in Hyderabad.
The 17-year-old unlicensed driver’s journey in a mini commercial vehicle ended only after he ran riot into a religious procession in the busy Warasiguda road, fatally knocking down a 50-year-old drum-beater and injuring five persons and two horses.
The accident took place around 10.20 p.m. on Thursday even as the police personnel on bandobast duty remained mute spectators.
Police said the drum-beater, who died while undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital, was identified as M Komariah, a resident of Warasiguda. “The mini-truck was carrying ‘Nishan Toli’ of a ‘Gyarvi’, a Muslim community procession,” said Chilkalguda sub-inspector Varunkanth.
He said the boy, whose age determination test was yet to be conducted, got into the vehicle, which was part of the procession, out of curiosity to have a go at driving and, instead of applying the break, he landed his foot on the accelerator, following which it ploughed into the crowd. People in the procession ran for their lives and the two horses collapsed in the confusion. All this happened in a minute, leaving everyone shell-shocked.
A case under Section 304-II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) was booked against the juvenile.
