The Mini Cooper that rammed a scooter at Nedumbassery, near Kochi, in the early hours of October 11 — killing three youngsters — was travelling at 162 kmph five seconds before the collision, according to a technical report the car's manufacturer, BMW, submitted to the investigation team on Thursday, November 5. Police disclosed the findings the same day and described the report as crucial scientific evidence in the case.

Source: The Hindu

The data was retrieved from the car's Advanced Crash Safety Module, which records key parameters during a collision. It shows the car was still doing about 144 kmph at the moment of impact, and that the brake pedal was pressed only about a second before the crash.

Source: The CSR Journal

162 kmphSpeed five seconds before impact
144 kmphSpeed at the moment of impact
500 metres in 11 secondsDistance covered, per earlier CCTV analysis
October 11, ~1:45 amWhen the crash happened at Nedumbassery

Police said the manufacturer's findings corroborate the conclusion investigators had already reached from CCTV footage, which showed the car covering nearly 500 metres in just 11 seconds. Officers said the scientific confirmation strengthens the evidence on the car's speed and on the driver's actions in the final moments before the collision.

The October 11 crash and the four accused

The crash happened at around 1:45 am on October 11, when the Mini Cooper collided with a scooter at Nedumbassery. Two women and a man, all aged about 21, were killed. Nedumbassery police arrested four 19-year-olds: Suhail Sajeev, who police allege was driving under the influence of alcohol, and three co-passengers — Ninav, Ameen Sha and Joyal S. — who are accused of aiding and abetting the alleged offence. All four remain in judicial custody.

The investigation is being led by Aluva Deputy Superintendent of Police Baiju Paulose under the supervision of Ernakulam Rural District Police Chief K.S. Sudarshan. According to The Hindu's report, a chemical examination is reported to have found that Sajeev had consumed alcohol at five times the permissible limit for driving, and the Excise Department has since suspended the licences of three bars for serving liquor to an underage person. These remain matters under investigation, and the allegations against the accused are yet to be proved in court.

In the weeks since the crash, an Angamaly court and then a sessions court denied bail to all four accused, after which they moved the Kerala High Court for bail. Police said the probe is continuing into the vehicle's speed, the driver's response in the moments leading up to the accident, and the role of each of the accused.