JOIN USPublic has to be alert to help the police
Accidents can be very traumatic. The accident itself troubles you and then the recovery period could get traumatic, reflecting on why and how it happened. Serious accidents such as loss of life or just recovering in time to beat death can be equally painful for the family and friends. And on top of all this, the accused gets away - literally - from the scene of accident as well as the lengthy legal process. This only worsens the victim’s plight.
P Krishnan, a retired defence officer was one day travelling near Jayanagar South End circle, when all of a sudden a heavy vehicle hit him from behind. He fell and hit his head on the ground. Luckily, in the first few minutes he managed to call his brother, Prasad, who was near Mysuru Road. Prasad gathered details and drove to South End as fast as he could. On finding Krishnan lying on the road, he immediately shifted him to a hospital closeby.
The doctor told Prasad that he had brought his brother in the nick of time. Krishnan went through a neuro surgery and eventually recovered. To this day, Krishnan remembers his fate and destiny. “I have been always shocked that I had just a few minutes to live. I was brought to the hospital in the nick of time. Thanks to destiny, I am alive today.”
But what about the accused, the perpetrator of the accident? “In the minutes after the accident, all I would be thinking would be how to save myself by getting some medical attention. The shock of the accident is so high that I am not even in my senses to see who had caused it. When the police arrive to take details of the case, they would be busy trying to handle the crowd that builds up at the spot,” says Krishnan.
Even if the police arrives on time, the accused often gets away by then. “So the police cannot take photographs or fingerprints or whatever else they need as evidence. If a traffic jam happens, then it is all the more problematic for the police, who have to utilise their time in addressing the chaos. Adequate staff may not be deployed which cramps the police from seeking details near the accident spot. All in all, the accused who gets away without any punishment, unless someone has been alert to note down the number of the vehicle that hit your vehicle.”
Krishnan believes that the evidence collection would be rudimentary, which would not help the police to build the sequence of events. Help should come from the public. But very often, people are anxious about being involved in a police case and would not contribute to the evidence collection.
S Aravind, a communications specialist, had a similar experience near Vijayanagar. Aravind, riding a bike, was hit by a car from behind. Even as he fell, the car sped away. “It was a shock. My legs were in acute pain. I couldn’t walk. After about some time, I realised I could handle my bike and I reached home all alone. It was a risk, but there was nothing else I could do.”
What about the accused, the car driver who hit him and made away? Aravind recalls that all the focus was on his recovery, to save himself.
“A crowd gathered at the accident spot, but the car driver was not to be seen. How was he to be traced? The police came late, by which time the accused was not to be seen.”
“In too many cases,” says Aravind, “it is felt that the police come late to the spot, which allows the main accused to flee from the spot. If no one has written down the vehicle number or make of the car, there is very little chance of tracing the accused.
“In my case, he hit me and left the spot immediately. I see no hope of the accused being traced and brought to book.”
ADITI SINGH
B Arch student
The police should look out for eye-witnesses immediately after an accident. At least someone would have seen the vehicle make or the colour. SOHAN RATH
Software engineer
Even if someone knows something about a guilty driver, they don’t come forward fearing repercussions. Public are worried they will be dragged into the case.
ANKITA SINGH
Architect, Indiranagar
The police, if they are alert enough, can find out more about a vehicle that has caused an accident. Of course, the public too should help them out.