Three people were killed when a speeding luxury car, being driven by a 19-year-old allegedly under the influence of alcohol, rammed into a scooter near Nedumbassery in Kochi in the small hours of Sunday.
The deceased have been identified as Devika from Madakkimala in Wayanad, Ijaz from Sullia in Mangaluru and Gopika from Karimba in Palakkad. The trio, aged 21, used to work at a company selling handicrafts at Thrikkakara in Kochi. They had gone out for tea when the accident occurred.
According to police, accused Suhail Sajeev was headed to the Nedumbassery airport in his BMW Mini Cooper to pick up his friends when he crashed into the scooter, dragging it for nearly 100 metres down the road before stopping.
Suhail tried to flee the scene, but was chased down by locals who handed him over to the police.
The police said Suhail had visited three bars before the accident. They are awaiting his blood report to ascertain whether he was driving under the influence of any narcotic substance.
Excise minister M. Liju has ordered legal action against the bars that served liquor to the 19-year-old. The legal age to consume liquor in Keralam is 23 years.