Octogenarian Booked For Causing His Own Death In Road Accident

An elderly man in India has been booked for causing an accident that claimed his life.

On Aug. 7, 2021, the man, identified as 80-year-old Jagdish Dewulkar, was riding his motorcycle with his wife, 70-year-old Sewantabai, when the vehicle met with an accident. The incident took place when the couple was heading back home from a birthday party in Nagpur, a city in the western state of Maharashtra.

While the wife escaped unhurt, Dewulkar was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to injuries five days later. His body was sent for an autopsy.

Four months after the accident, cops presented the incident report to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, who asked them to register the case against the man while "holding him responsible for negligent driving leading to the accident," News 18 reported.

Speaking to the local daily The Times of India, a police officer said the man has been “technically held responsible” for the accident. Investigation revealed Dewulkar was driving the motorcycle on the wrong side of the road and had taken a sudden turn, which caused him to lose balance and fall.

"We are going to now ship an abated abstract of the case to the courtroom, informing concerning the demise of the accused within the case," the officer told The Times of India.

In October, a 28-year-old man died in a freak accident in Nagpur. Rahul Umredkar was riding a motorcycle when he lost balance and hit a road divider. He then fell off a flyover and suffered serious head injuries. The passersby rushed him to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead. A case of accidental death was registered.

According to data, 6 motorcycle riders die every hour in India and a combination of poor roads and faulty helmets make the country unsafe for motorcyclists. A report by the World Health Organization states that correct usage of helmets could reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 42% and head injuries by 69%.