TEAM HERALD
VASCO: A man died and another was critically injured after a car belonging to MLA Subhash Phaldessai rammed into their motorcycle at the MES college junction in Cortalim, Mormugao, on Friday.
According to police, Zuari Nagar resident Sunil Ramaji Rathod (22) was riding a Hero Honda Passion (GA-06-B-3613), while California resident Mcelwain Noh Mathew (26) was riding pillion. They reached the college junction at around 7.20 am and attempted a u-turn towards Dabolim airport. However, they failed to notice an Innova (GA-03-P-1582) speeding towards the airport from Verna.
The duo sustained serious injuries upon collision. A 108 ambulance moved them to Cottage Hospital, Chicalim, from where they were referred to the GMC, Bambolim. Rathod, having suffered major head injuries, died while undergoing treatment. Mathew is still being treated.
The police stated that Phaldessai was being driven in the official car allotted to him as the Chairman of Info Tech Corporation. He was being dropped to the airport so he could board a flight to Bangalore, where his holidaying family members awaited him.
The Verna Police registered a case against the driver, Sanguem resident Pritesh Gaonkar (23), and is further investigating the case.
While talking to Herald, Phaldessai said, “I will not say that my car was slow; we were obviously on a national highway road. When my driver noticed the riders crossing the road to take a U-turn, he went extreme left and even rammed the traffic island that was cutting the village road to highway road. The rider possibly got confused and dashed his two-wheeler against my car, after which they both sustained injuries. I made all attempts to save the duo by taking them to the hospital. However the rider died while undergoing treatment at GMC.”
Phaldessai informed that he would help the family members of the deceased in whatever way he could.
