Nedumbassery crash: Manufacturer’s report puts pre-crash car speed at 162 km/h

The car’s speed had dropped to around 144 km/h at the time of impact, the report said.

The luxury car that mowed down three youths in Nedumbassery last month was traveling at a speed of 162 kmph five seconds before the accident, according to a technical inspection carried out by the multinational company that manufactured the vehicle.

The finding confirms the conclusion reached by the investigative team that investigated the case using CCTV footage analysis. Investigators had previously determined that the car traveled a distance of nearly 500 meters in just 11 seconds. The report, which the company submitted to the investigative team on Thursday after analyzing data obtained from the Advanced Crash Safety Module, provides the scientific basis for the police findings.

The accident happened on October 11 at around 1.45am. The Nedumbassery police arrested four 19-year-old youths: Suhail Sajeev, who was allegedly driving the car under the influence of alcohol, and three passengers, Ninav, Ameen Sha and Joyal S. All four accused remain in judicial custody.

According to the report, the car was traveling at 162 km/h five seconds before the crash, while its speed at the time of impact was around 144 km/h. Analysis of the crash data further revealed that the brake pedal was depressed only about a second before the crash. Police said scientific confirmation of their findings would serve as crucial evidence in the investigation.

Police had earlier claimed to have obtained footage showing Mr Sajeev driving the car at a speed of nearly 160km/h shortly before the accident. The footage is said to have been recorded on a mobile phone by one of the passengers.

Meanwhile, investigations into the circumstances of the accident, including the speed of the vehicle, the driver’s reaction in the moments before the accident and the role of other accused, are continuing. The investigation is being conducted by Aluva DySP Baiju Paulos under the supervision of Ernakulam Rural District Superintendent of Police KS Sudarshan.

The chemical test report, according to sources, found that Mr. Sajeev had consumed alcohol at five times the legal limit for driving. The excise department has since suspended the licenses of three bars for serving alcohol to a minor.

Published – 05 Nov 2026 22:25 IST