Kerala Mini Cooper accident: Car was speeding at 162 kmph, says BMW report
Police say BMW India’s crash data from the car’s safety module backs CCTV evidence of overspeeding before the Nedumbassery crash that killed three
Car manufacturer BMW’s inspection of the vehicle — a Mini Cooper — that killed three bikers near Kochi on October 11 found its speed five seconds before the mishap should have been 162 km/h, police said on Thursday.
The BMW's crash data analysis also found that the driver and prime accused, Suhail, applied the brakes approximately one second before hitting the two-wheeler, at which point the car's speed was 144 kmph, police said.
Police said their conclusion, after analysing CCTV visuals, that the vehicle was overspeeding has been confirmed by BMW’s technical inspection of the vehicle. The investigation team had found that the car travelled 500 meters in just 11 seconds.
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The police findings are supported by a report from BMW India on Thursday, based on data from the car’s Advanced Crash Safety Module (ACSM).
The report given by BMW is crucial evidence in the investigation as it provides scientific basis for the findings of the team probing the incident.
Police said its investigation into the circumstances of the accident, the speed of the vehicle, the actions of the driver immediately before the accident, and the role of other accused is ongoing.
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The investigation is being led by Aluva Deputy Superintendent of Police Baiju Paulose under the supervision of District Police Chief KS Sudarshan, it said.
Two women and a man, all aged around 21 years, were killed when the speeding Mini Cooper rammed into their scooter at Nedumbassery near Kochi in the early hours of 11 October.
Suhail was behind the wheel and was drunk, according to the police. Suhail is the first accused in the case, while his friends Ninav, Ameer, and Joel have been named as accused for allegedly abetting the offence, police have said. All four are currently in judicial custody.
(With agency inputs)