Panaji: Five persons, including two pedestrians, died, and five others were injured in an accident involving a car and a truck on NH4 on Monday evening in Corlim village in north Goa, around 10 km from here.
The accident occurred when a Maruti SX4 bearing Maharashtra number plates crashed into an oncoming truck, after hitting two pedestrians, according to Superintendent of Police, North Goa, Kartik Kashyap.
The deceased pedestrians have been identified as Ida Queroz (55) and Luis Menezes(48), both residents of Corlim. The other three victims — Natalia Pereira (60), Manashri Bhoir (4), and Vrushali Bhoir (35) — were in the car.
Of the five injured, all of whom were travelling in the car and are Mumbai residents, two are severely injured and are being treated at the State-owned Goa Medical College hospital, police said.
CM’s condolences
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has expressed grief following the fatal traffic accident.
“Deeply pained to hear about the loss of lives due to the tragic accident at Goa-Corlim highway. My heartfelt condolences to all affected by this tragedy,” Mr. Parrikar said in a tweet.
Police said the four-wheeler is completely damaged. The Pereira family and Bhoir family were travelling from Ponda to Panaji. CCTV footage from a petrol pump close to the accident spot shows the car going on the wrong side and hitting the pedestrians before colliding head on with the cargo truck. The police said prima facie it appeared to be the fault of the car driver.
Meanwhile, Mr. Parrikar, concerned by the rising number of fatal road accidents in the State, has called for an emergency meeting at his official residence on Tuesday morning. Transport and traffic police officials will be attending the meeting where a special drive to curb such accidents will be discussed, according to an official from the Chief Minister’s office on Monday evening.
