Mercedes drags motorist 2 km in South Goa before bursting into flames

A 37-year-old man, Ashok Chavan, lost his life and another person sustained injuries when a Mercedes car allegedly collided with a two-wheeler in South Goa on Friday. The Mercedes driver, believed to be under the influence of alcohol, has been apprehended. The Mercedes dragged the victim for approximately 2 kilometers post-accident before bursting into flames and coming to a stop.

The vehicle's pillion rider, Sonu Kumar, was also injured in the incident and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital. The deceased and the injured were identified as Ashok Chavan and Sonu Kumar, respectively. According to eyewitness Jose Fernandes, the car came to a halt near the Church and then ignited, possibly due to the prolonged dragging of the two-wheeler.

Fernandes, along with another individual, managed to pull the driver out of the burning car, potentially saving him from severe burn injuries. The Mercedes driver, Vidhyadhar Prabhu, was arrested on Friday night and subsequently presented in a local court, where he was remanded to police custody for two days. Prabhu has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

An FIR has been filed for offenses including rash driving, culpable homicide, and an act endangering life or personal safety, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, according to police reports.