Road racing involving two cars resulted in the death of a taxi driver at Kottekkad in Thrissur on Wednesday night. Four others sustained serious injuries in the accident.
According to locals who spoke to Manorama News, a BMW car and a Thar SUV was involved in a race when the latter hit an auto before crashing into a taxi that was returning from Guruvayur at 9.30 pm.
An officer of Viyyur police station said the victim's wife, daughter and grand-daughter also suffered injuries and are presently undergoing treatment.
The officer also said that the drivers of the Thar and the BMW have been taken into custody and alcohol was detected in the blood alcohol test of the former.
Police said two separate FIRs – one for causing death and another for causing injuries – would be registered after inquest proceedings are completed.
Three others who were in the Thar reportedly fled while the driver was held up by locals and handed over the police.
Later, scores of taxi drivers protested before the Viyyur Jail demanding the need to put an end to road racing.
Meanwhile, the victim's wife told a TV channel that the accident happened suddenly.
She said that as she was pulled out from the taxi, her husband – who was sitting in the front seat – was not moving and locals were saying that the jeep was travelling at a very high speed.
The taxi driver told the TV channel that after the BMW went past them at high speed, he heard another vehicle approaching fast and therefore, he stopped the car and moved it to a side of the road.
Despite that, the speeding Thar rammed into the taxi, he claimed.
Visuals aired on TV channels showed locals detaining the Thar driver after the accident.
Police said that the BMW had sped away from the area, but was later identified based on CCTV footage of the area.
