Drunk teen behind wheel of SUV rams car, crashes into electricity pole

A 19-year-old drunk driver behind the wheel of a SUV rammed into a car before crashing into an electricity pole at Peerzadiguda on the Hyderabad–Warangal National Highway on Thursday. The impact caused the couple’s car to flip multiple times, leaving both the occupants injured.

The accident occurred around 6.30 a.m. near Pillar No. 57 of the Uppal–Narapally elevated corridor in Medipally. The injured were identified as Sai Shiva, 30, and his wife Meghana, 28, who were travelling in a Hyundai i10 from LB Nagar towards Narsampet in Warangal district.

According to the Medipally Inspector D. Jalender Reddy, the driver of the SUV, identified as Akun Sabharwal, 19, recorded a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reading of 238 mg per 100 ml, nearly eight times the permissible limit of 30 mg per 100 ml. He was also found to be driving without a valid licence, while the SUV was being operated with a temporary registration (TR) number and a fake number plate.

The SUV, travelling at high speed, rammed into the i10 from the rear near Peerzadiguda. The SUV subsequently crashed into an electricity pole, which fell onto the vehicle. The injured couple were shifted to a private hospital in Chaitanyapuri for treatment.

The officer said that incident involved as many as 10 violations under the Motor Vehicles Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including drunken driving, overspeeding and driving without a valid licence.

“The accident occurred during the early morning hours when the roads were relatively empty owing to the festival holidays. The consequences could have been far more serious, potentially resulting in fatalities, had the collision occurred during peak traffic hours,” said the officer.

The Medipally police registered a case against Sabharwal and the vehicle’s owner, Mangilal, who was accused of allowing a person without a valid driving licence to operate the SUV. Akun was placed under arrest. Further investigation is under way.