Kochi, 11 Oct (H.S.):Two women and a man were killed when a reportedly speeding Mini Cooper car rammed into the rear of their scooter on Airport Road at Nedumbassery near Kochi early on Sunday, police said.

The victims were identified as Ijaz, a native of Karnataka, Devika from Wayanad and Gopika from Palakkad. According to police, all three died at the scene of the collision, which occurred around 2 a.m.

The three had visited a tea shop near the airport and were leaving the area when the car struck their scooter from behind. The impact threw the riders off the vehicle, according to the account provided by police.

Local residents alleged that the car was travelling at excessive speed. People nearby rushed to the accident spot following the collision, but none of the three scooter occupants survived.

Police took the car driver, identified as Suhail Sajeev, into custody after reaching the scene. They said there was suspicion that he had consumed an intoxicating substance, but stressed that this had not been confirmed.

Any conclusion about whether the driver was under the influence would depend on a medical examination, police said. The allegation therefore remains subject to verification.

According to residents, the driver stopped the car after the crash. However, an argument subsequently broke out between him and people who had gathered at the spot. Nedumbassery police then intervened and took him into custody.

The bodies were shifted to a hospital following the accident. Police have identified the victims’ home regions, but further personal details were not available in the account.

The circumstances of the collision, including the residents’ allegation of excessive speed and the suspicion concerning the driver’s condition, remain matters for investigation. Police have not yet confirmed whether intoxicant use contributed to the fatal crash on the airport approach road.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman