Car crashes into Thiruvananthapuram airport wall, driver arrested for drunk driving

A speeding car broke through the compound wall of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after hitting a motorcycle. Police arrested the driver on suspicion of drunk driving as airport authorities secured the damaged area.

In Short

• Car breaks through Thiruvananthapuram airport wall, injuring three
• Car first hits motorcycle injuring riders on All Saints College road
• Airport authorities repair wall; police boost security nearby

A car rammed into and broke through the compound wall of the high-security Thiruvananthapuram International Airport at Shanghumugham here in a suspected drunk driving incident on Sunday, injuring three passengers, police said.

The driver of the car, identified as Manu of Thalayal, Athiyannoor village in Balaramapuram, was arrested for drunk driving, police said.

According to the FIR, the car first collided with a motorcycle on the All Saints College-Shanghumugham road, injuring its riders.

The car then continued at high speed towards Shanghumugham before ramming into the airport's perimeter wall near the Shanghumugham Air Force Station at around 4.45 pm, the FIR said.

A police team from Valiyathura station reached the spot and found the driver allegedly intoxicated.

"From his speech, behaviour and the smell of alcohol on his breath, the police were fully convinced that he was in an intoxicated state," the FIR said.

The driver was later shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital, where his blood samples were collected for further tests, officials said. Three other passengers in the car were injured and shifted to the hospital, police said.

Airport authorities soon arrived at the scene and covered the damaged section of the compound wall with metal sheets. Police personnel were also deployed in the area as part of security measures, officials added.

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