TEAM HERALD
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PORVORIM: The 56-year-old headmistress of Our Lady of Rosary High School at Mandrem died after her scooter was crushed by a tow truck at an accident-prone zone in Marna-Siolim on Monday evening.
The failure of the PWD to initiate safety measures along the accident-prone zone, despite requests from the Traffic Police and Mapusa RTO, has come in for criticism from residents in the area.
According to Mapusa Police, Jacinta Fernandes, a resident of Bastora, was returning home on her scooter (GA-03-Q-4136) and was proceeding along the slope at Marna-Siolim at about 3 pm, when the tow truck (GA-08-K-1621), which was proceeding from Mapusa towards Morjim, dashed the scooter as it was coming down the slope.
Police further informed that the scooter was crushed under the tow truck and Fernandes died on the spot.
Mapusa Police have registered the case of rash driving against the tow truck driver. Police is investigating the case.
Speaking to Herald, Gregory D’Souza of Siolim said the spot, where the accident took place is an accident-prone zone. “Since the road is narrow and the slope is very stiff, many fatal accidents have taken place at the spot,” said D’Souza.
D’Souza said he had requested the Marna-Siolim Panchayat to discuss the matter with the Traffic Police and the panchayat convened a meeting on June 18, 2012. The meeting was attended by the officials of Traffic Police and RTO.
“The Traffic Police and RTO at Mapusa had written letters on July 12, 2012, and July 26, 2012, to the Public Works Department to take remedial measures to reduce accidents at the spot, but nothing was done in the matter,” said D’Souza.
