After evading cops, driver dives into Mandovi river
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 11
A driver had to jump from Mandovi bridge in Panaji after police and transport department officials gave him a hot chase on Margao-Panaji highway.
Police said that the tempo driver who identifies himself as Rinku Sharma (30) from Uttar Pradesh was intercepted at Mandovi Bridge leaped into the river even as police and transport department officials kept watching.
Porvorim police have registered case of attempting suicide against the driver, who was rescued by the fishermen and rushed to the hospital. Eye witnesses said that the police after stopping him at the bridge hit him which baffled the driver.
The chain of incidents began at Agassaim market when Rinku accidentally hit the tempo bearing registration number MH-43-F-4195 to an Activa scooter which was parked at the roadside.
The tempo driver, who was reportedly drunk, did not wait to apologize and instead rushed further. “The scooter driver Durgadas Shirodkar tried to chase him but lost his track,” Agassaim inspector Vishwesh Karpe said.
The scooterist was lucky to find Transport department officials patrolling the road. He informed them and they began chasing the tempo which went via Santa Cruz and later turned towards Panaji city.
It was intercepted on the bridge by the RTO and Traffic Police. “Finding that he had run out of luck, the driver preferred to run on the bridge and suddenly leaped into the water,” the PI said.
Shocked policemen and RTO staff were left gasping for breathe even as fishermen who were below the bridge rescued him and got out of the water.
After initial treatment he was found to be safe but was referred to GMC for medical examination that concluded he was drunk.
Agassaim police have registered a case against the driver for rash and negligent driving while he is also booked at Porvorim police station.
