Team Herald
MARGAO: A day after the tragic accident reported at Verna, the Maina Curtorim Police on Monday handed over the bodies of the three teenagers to their families for final rites.
The post-mortem revealed that Rowan Xavier Sequeira from Sanguem died due to a spine fracture while, Ethan Ivan Fernandes and Joshua William Barreto, both from Curchorem, succumbed to head and chest injuries.
The impact of Sunday’s accident was such that the three teenagers were thrown out of the car. When police retrieved them, Ethan appeared to show signs of breathing and was rushed to Hospicio but was declared dead on arrival.
However, the ill-fated vehicle is yet to be removed from the ravine.
It has come to light that the vehicle is registered in the name of Joshua’s maternal grandfather Peter Fernandes, who died two years ago. On receiving the news of Joshua’s death at Verna on Sunday, his maternal grandmother Lourencia immediately rushed out of her house but was knocked down by a vehicle. She sustained leg injuries and has been admitted to Hospicio, Margao.
Ethan was a Class X student of at Sarvodaya High School while, Joshua and Rowan were Class IX students of Guardian Angel High School. As mark of respect, both the schools remained closed on Monday.
Meanwhile, the police had a tough time to identify the victims as they being minors, did not possess any documents such as licence. “The vehicle owner is dead and hence we cannot book a case against him,” said Investigating Officer PSI Ashok Bhavkar.
As per the law, a case has to be registered against the vehicle owner for allowing minors to use the vehicle without a licence. However, through the vehicle registration number the police managed to get information.
