18-year-old arrested after car with flat tire hits more than a dozen vehicles in Kerala

An 18-year-old youth was arrested after the car he was driving with a flat tire continued to speed down the road, creating sparks and crashing into dozens of vehicles before residents were able to stop him in Kerala’s Kottayam district, police said.

Accused Gokul, who lives near Thiruvalla railway station, allegedly drove the rented car at a high speed of nearly 88 km, causing a series of accidents on Tuesday evening.

Police said the teenager, who had hired the car from Thiruvalla, was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, though that was yet to be ascertained.

The car was heading towards Changanassery when it first hit the scooter driven by Nanditha (21) at Mundukotta in Paippad. She was returning home after working at a private hospital in Thiruvalla.

The woman sustained serious injuries on her hands and legs and was admitted to a private hospital in Thiruvalla.

However, the driver did not stop and continued speeding through Thrikodithanam towards Thengana. In Kannott, the car crashed into six other vehicles, police said.

By then, one of the car’s front tires had burst. Despite this, the vehicle continued to drive, sparks flying as the damaged tire scraped the road. More than a dozen vehicles were reportedly damaged in the series of accidents.

As the car continued to drive dangerously, residents gave chase and managed to catch it. They subsequently alerted the Thrikodithanam police, who reached the spot and took Gokul into custody.

The incident also caused a major traffic jam in the area for a considerable time.

The incident comes amid growing concern over road accidents by minor drivers in Kerala.

Recent cases include an accident involving a minor in Cheranalloor and another involving a 19-year-old in Nedumbassery.

Published – November 4, 2026 10:46 AM IST