A dangerous driving incident on a busy road in Kottayam ended after police took an 18-year-old driver into custody, following an alleged nine-kilometre sequence of collisions that left several people seeking medical treatment.
The incident took place around 6pm on Tuesday as the car travelled from Payippad towards Thengana, according to police. The driver was identified as Gokul Vinu, a native of Thiruvalla.
Police said the car first struck another vehicle at Chanjodi. At Asharimukku, it allegedly knocked down a woman riding a scooter and drove over the two-wheeler, damaging it. The woman was thrown towards the roadside and avoided being trapped beneath the car, according to the report.
The vehicle also brushed against pedestrians at Asharimukku before hitting another car at Poovathumoodu. One of its tyres burst during the collision, but the driver allegedly continued along Vazhoor Road on the damaged wheel. Sparks were seen flying from beneath the car as it moved through the road, while other motorists swerved to avoid it.
Motorists followed the vehicle and managed to block it near Thengana junction. Police said the car had slowed after its wheel plate wore down while it approached a downslope at Kannavatta. The vehicle’s movement on a damaged wheel created an additional risk for other road users during the pursuit, according to details reported from the scene.
Residents who gathered at the location attempted to confront the driver. Police said officers faced difficulty while taking Vinu to Changanassery police station. The driver was later sent for a medical examination after police suspected that he might have been under the influence of an intoxicant. The available report does not establish the result of that examination.
Several people injured in the incident reportedly sought treatment at nearby private hospitals. The report did not specify the total number of injured people, the extent of their injuries or the number of vehicles damaged.
The sequence highlights the immediate risks created when a vehicle continues moving through a busy urban and semi-urban road corridor after a serious mechanical failure or collision. In this case, the car continued after a tyre burst and travelled through multiple locations before motorists were able to stop it.
Police have taken the driver into custody and sent him for medical examination. Further action will depend on the police investigation and the findings of the examination.
