A 29-year-old woman was killed after a private bus hit and ran over her on Kakkanad-Infopark Road in Kochi on Wednesday morning, prompting police to register a culpable homicide case against the driver and order tests to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.
The deceased was identified as Akshara A, a native of Thrissur who was residing in Kakkanad. The crash occurred at around 8.20am near Maxfit Fitness Studio, west of Kuzhikkattumoola Junction, while Akshara was returning from the gym.
According to Infopark police, the private bus, operating under the name Malayil, was travelling at excessive speed when it struck Akshara as she walked along the right side of the road in the opposite direction. The impact threw her onto the road, after which the bus ran over her.
Akshara was taken to Sunrise Hospital in Kakkanad, where she died while undergoing treatment for her injuries. The incident occurred on the Kakkanad-Infopark stretch, a key road in the area where residents and workers travel during the morning peak period. The police account identifies the collision point as being near a fitness studio and a junction west of Kuzhikkattumoola Junction.
Infopark police registered a case against the driver, Binoy, a resident of Thengode near Kakkanad, under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relates to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Police have recorded his arrest, and he is scheduled to be produced before the court on Thursday.
A senior police officer said investigators had collected hair and blood samples from the driver for medical examination. The tests are intended to establish whether he was under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicant at the time of the accident. “We will take further action when we receive the results,” the officer said.
The pending medical examination is one of the next steps in the police investigation. Further action against the driver will be taken after the test results are received, while the court is scheduled to consider the case following his production on Thursday.
