PANJIM: An inquiry has been initiated against an automobile dealer after a new luxury car given for a test drive was found involved in a fatal accident at Dona Paula last week.
The Additional Director of Transport, South has issued a show cause notice to the automobile dealer rom Verna asking him as to why action should not be taken against him for giving vehicle for test drive without accompanying staff. The vehicle was also not registered with the department.
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Rule 33 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 states that no motor vehicle in the possession of a dealer shall be driven for purposes such as a test drive unless it is accompanied by a duly authorised representative of the dealer and complies with prescribed conditions, including the use of a trade certificate.”
When contacted, Additional Director of Transport Mario D’Souza said, “We have issued a show cause notice to the automobile dealer asking to reply within a week as to why action should not be initiated against him for giving a new vehicle for test driver. We are awaiting his reply and action would be initiated against the dealer in accordance with the law.”
Souza said that once the reply is received, it will be forwarded to the Director of Transport for appropriate action.
Assistant Director of Transport, North, Oswin Carvalho said that both the vehicles involved in the accident were inspected by the motor vehicle inspectors Antonio D’Sa and Swaraj Naik. The two MV inspectors also inspected the accident site, he said adding that some improvements will be proposed at the site.
“We are suggesting some measures/improvements at the accident site to prevent recurrence of accidents. Vehicles found parked along the roadside were removed and the operators were also issued challans. Such parking was found obstructed visibility of other motorists.”
The accident occurred on April 6 when 21-year-old Darius Dias of Bogmalo drove a new luxury car in high speed and in rash and negligent manner without proper care and caution while proceeding from Dona Paula towards Goa University side, and when reached near road crossing opposite the starred hotel rammed into a two-wheeler injuring rider D Arun Kumar and pillion rider Diksha Parwadkar, who were crossing the road and proceeding towards Goa University. With the impact both were thrown off the road and later Parwadkar succumbed to her injuries.
The Panjim police have registered a case against Dias under Sections 106(1), 125(6) and 281 BNS 2023 and PSI Mahadev D Pednekar is conducting further investigations under the guidance of Panjim PI Vijaykumar Chodankar. More details were not available as the investigating officer was reported sick leave.
