Kolkata: A 23-year-old son of a businessman driving at a high speed lost control of the car and ran over a cyclist and seriously injured a pedestrian before crashing into a lamp post on Sunday night. The cyclist, Ratan Sarkar (48), was declared dead after he was taken to a hospital while the pedestrian, Nilotpal Biswas (45), is undergoing treatment.
Police said the youth at the wheel, Subhan Banerjee, was inebriated. According to DC (South Suburban) Rahid Munir Khan, a blood test on Banerjee had confirmed high alcohol content. Banerjee has been arrested and booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Banerjee was driving the car at a speed of 80km/hr when the fatal accident happened at the Arya Vidyalaya Road-Prince Anwar Shah Connector crossing in the Sapuipara area of Garfa around 10.10pm on Sunday. There were two other occupants in the car, a young woman and man who are believed to be Banerjee’s friends.
While being interrogated, Banerjee claimed he spotted guardrails positioned in the middle of the road rather late and hit the brakes hard, triggering the accident. The guard rails are placed before crossings to slow down speed.
According to Banerjee, he swerved hard and braked simultaneously, causing the car to skid and dash into the victims. An investigator said the claim would be checked during a mechanical test. Khan said CCTV footage from the intersection were also being analyzed to check if it tallies with the Banerjee’s version.
Police sources said that Banerjee, a Regent Park resident, had graduated as a BTech from a Rajarhat college. “He is preparing for higher studies. On Sunday evening, he first drove his friends to their college at Rajarhat. They then drove to various locations in south-central Kolkata and then to Prinsep Ghat and Babughat. He has denied he was at a party in New Alipore. They were driving towards Avishikta when the accident took place,” said an officer.
Forensic experts have found 104-ft-long tyre marks from right lane to the left. On impact, Sarkar was thrown inside a pile of asbestos. Locals took time to rescue him and rush to hospital. “The car’s front right side (driver’s side) suffered extensive damage. The tyre almost came off,” said a forensic source.
Kolkata Police sources said plans were under way for raids against drink-driving that usually increases in winter, particularly around Christmas and New Year when people get into the partying mood.