11 hurt in freak mishap at Mapusa NT News Service Mapusa Jan 21: In a freak accident at Mapusa, 11 people were injured and eight vehicles damaged when a truck carrying laterite stones lost control and ploughed into the vehicles and pedestrians on the slope near the Mapusa Municipality around 11 today morning.
The truck bearing registration number GDS 6394 was driven by 35-year old Mr Vishwas Balchandra Gaonkar from Camurlim. It was ferrying laterite stones from Camurlim to Verla-Canca and its two loaders, both natives of Sholapur were on the truck. The driver told police that as the truck came down the slope near the old Civil Registration office, the brakes failed and the truck dashed against a pickup carrying cold drinks. The pick up was turning right into the side road going down towards Alankar theatre. The truck then swerved to its right and dashed against a Hero Honda motorcycle. It zigzagged and then ploughed into pedestrians and vehicles parked opposite the State Bank of India, finally hitting the bank's entrance gallery. All the 11 people injured, including the truck driver, were taken to the Asilo hospital, but one person, 68-year old Mr Valentino D'souza from Sangolda was then shifted to the Goa Medical College, Bambolim. According to Mapusa police, Mr D'souza sustained grievous injuries but is reportedly out of danger. The truck driver and two other persons, Ms Joe D'Souza from Ansabhatt, Mapusa, and Ms Rupa Anvekar from Cunchelim are still admitted to the Asilo, Mapusa. The police gave the names of the other injured persons as Messrs Jetty D'souza, Mapusa, Gautam Kumar Jha, Saligao, Feliciano D'Souza, Mapusa, Laxman Kumar Thakur, Saligao, Krishnakant Jha, Saligao and the two loaders of the truck Messrs Ashok Khatre and Devendra Tavse, both from Sholapur. The damaged vehicles include the cold drink supply pickup, six two-wheelers and a Maruti Zen. The mishap caused a traffic jam on the busy road for almost 30 minutes. The Mapusa police filed offences related to causing injuries to others due to rash and negligent driving against the truck driver.
