A tragic road accident in Kolhapur, caused by a minor driving on the wrong side of a national highway bridge, has claimed one life and left another injured, leading to the arrest of the vehicle owner.
Details of the Fatal Kolhapur Accident
The incident occurred around 12:30 am on Sunday on the Uchgaon bridge along the Pune-Bengaluru national highway. A 17-year-old boy, who was four months into his minor age, was behind the wheel of his uncle's SUV. He was driving on the wrong side of the road when he collided head-on with an oncoming motorcycle.
The two men on the bike, identified as industrial workers returning home, were thrown onto the highway with severe injuries. The SUV driver, instead of stopping to help, sped away from the spot. Passersby later found the victims and arranged for an ambulance.
Victims and Legal Aftermath
The injured were rushed to a hospital. The rider, Goraknath Prakash Patil (30) from Girgaon in Karvir tehsil, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday afternoon. His colleague on the pillion, Abhijeet Dinkar Khot (34) from Shahuwadi tehsil, survived. A case was registered based on Khot's complaint.
Assistant inspector Tabassum Magdum of Gokul Shirgaon police station stated that the juvenile driver has been presented before the juvenile board. The police have arrested his 55-year-old uncle, the owner of the SUV, as he was aware his nephew was a minor. The uncle faces serious charges under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 and the Motor Vehicles Act.
Charges and Family Tragedy
The charges against the SUV owner include:
- Section 105(1) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
- Section 281 for rash driving endangering human life.
- Sections 125(a) and 125(b) for negligence under BNS 2023.
- Sections 184 for reckless driving and 134(a) for failing to stop, aid the injured, and report the accident under the Motor Vehicles Act.
- Additional sections for allowing a person without a license to drive.
The death of Goraknath Patil has plunged his family into crisis. He was the sole breadwinner for his family, which includes his mother, younger brother, wife, and two young children. The family had already suffered the loss of Patil's father just a few months prior to this tragedy.
This incident highlights the grave dangers of underage and reckless driving, as well as the legal responsibility of vehicle owners. The police have assured that chargesheets will be filed against the arrested uncle in due course.
