Thrissur crash: Forensic tests hint at alcohol, final report awaited
Forensic surgeon says preliminary findings hint at alcohol use by students killed in Thrissur crash; lab tests to confirm.
Preliminary post-mortem examinations of the eight engineering students who died in a road accident in Thrissur have indicated that some of them may have consumed alcohol before the crash, the forensic surgeon who supervised the procedures said.
Dr. Hitesh Shankar, Head of the Forensic Medicine Department at Thrissur Medical College, noted in a social media post that the initial assessment pointed to alcohol consumption. However, he stressed that the mere presence of alcohol in the blood would not be enough to conclusively determine the cause of the accident.
"Alcohol can impair a driver's judgement, attention, reaction time, and coordination, significantly raising the risk of a crash. But its presence alone does not prove it caused the accident," he explained.
Samples have been sent to a laboratory for detailed analysis. Tests are also being conducted to check for the presence of narcotic or other chemical substances.
The accident occurred around 11:42 pm on Friday at Panampikunnu Centre on National Highway 66 in Kaipamangalam. The victims, students of PSNA College of Engineering and Technology in Dindigul, were travelling in a car that rammed into the rear of a parked goods lorry. The impact left the vehicle mangled, requiring rescue personnel to cut it open to free those trapped.
Post-mortem findings revealed the severity of the collision. Dr. Shankar said several victims suffered extensive injuries to the head, chest, and vital organs, along with damage to major blood vessels. In some cases, the injuries suggested death was instantaneous or occurred within moments of impact. One victim's legs were completely severed.
Separately, local residents have claimed the group was involved in an altercation at Pathamkallu in Thalikulam while trying to arrange accommodation. They said they informed the Vadanappally police, and the group allegedly left in a hurry as police were expected to arrive. Authorities have collected visuals from the area and are examining the sequence of events leading up to the crash.
A joint team from the police, Motor Vehicles Department, Public Works Department, and the National Highways Authority of India is scheduled to inspect the stretch of NH 66 on Tuesday.