Nineteen-year-old Delhi student Shaurya Goyal is named as the driver in a Goa crash that killed a 65-year-old tourist; police, eyewitness claims, seat swap controversy.
According to investigators, the SUV lost control and collided head-on with a Hyundai i20, leading to the death of Bhagat Ram Sharma. (Photo: Social Media)
A fatal road accident in North Goa has sparked widespread debate after police identified a 19-year-old Delhi student as the driver of a Mahindra Thar that crashed into a family car, killing a senior citizen tourist. The incident occurred on Monday evening near a busy junction in Assagao and has drawn attention not only because of the tragic loss of life, but also due to claims and counter-claims circulating online about who was behind the wheel.
According to investigators, the SUV lost control and collided head-on with a Hyundai i20, leading to the death of Bhagat Ram Sharma, a 65-year-old tourist from Bhopal. While rumours surfaced soon after the crash suggesting a different person was driving, police have firmly denied these allegations, citing CCTV footage and witness verification.
Shaurya Goyal is a 19-year-old Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) student from South Delhi’s Hauz Khas. He is currently in his second year at a private university near the national capital. Neighbours describe him as a reserved and academically focused student who mostly stayed indoors and returned home on weekends.
Residents of his neighbourhood recall him as someone who “mostly kept to himself” and rarely drove. “He was serious about his studies and usually came home on weekends,” said a neighbour. Another added, “I’ve seen him drive occasionally, but generally he took a cab for commuting.”
Goyal is the elder of two siblings. His family runs a jewellery business, while his younger sister is still in school. Friends say the developments after the accident have deeply disturbed him.
Police said the crash took place around 5.50 pm when the Thar was travelling from Mapusa towards Anjuna. Near a junction in Assagao, the SUV allegedly went out of control and rammed into Sharma’s Hyundai i20, which was approaching from the opposite direction.
Sharma was rushed to the District Hospital in Mapusa, where doctors declared him brought dead. His wife, Leela Sharma (59), suffered a leg fracture, while a three-month-old infant travelling with them sustained minor injuries.
An FIR has been registered by the Anjuna Police for causing death by negligence and rash driving. Goyal was arrested shortly after and later released on bail, as the offences are bailable under the law.
Soon after the accident, some eyewitnesses claimed that a young woman was driving the Thar and that a seat switch happened after the crash. These claims quickly spread on social media.
Police have categorically rejected this version. Anjuna Police Inspector Suraj Gawas stated, “No witness told us that a girl was driving. CCTV footage clearly shows Shaurya Goyal at the wheel,” adding that anyone with contrary evidence is free to approach investigators.
Medical tests conducted on Goyal also ruled out alcohol consumption at the time of the accident.
The death of Bhagat Ram Sharma has left his neighbourhood in Bhopal stunned. Residents of Sundar Nagar said the family had visited them just days earlier. Sharma, who ran a TV repair business, is survived by his wife and three children, all IT professionals based in Delhi.
As the investigation continues, police say they are examining all angles, including vehicle speed, road conditions, and CCTV footage, to establish the exact circumstances that led to the tragic crash.
