Police arrest unlicensed rider linked to Sosun Magu accident that injured three

A man has been arrested and remanded in custody for 15 days in connection with the dangerous accident that occurred on Sosun Magu last Saturday night.

The accident took place when a speeding motorcycle collided with another motorcycle. A Police spokesperson confirmed to Sun that Maah Hassan, 21, of Asseyri, Th. Dhiyamigili, has been arrested in relation to the case.

He was produced before the court for a remand hearing and was ordered to be held in custody for 15 days. According to the court order, he was arrested under Article 49 of the Constitution and Articles 59 and 60 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The court noted that releasing him would pose a danger to public safety, citing zigzagging, dangerous high-speed driving, and driving without a licence.

Police also stated that he has been arrested and fined four times this year for driving without a licence.

A total of three people were injured in the accident: a 21-year-old man, a 22-year-old man, and a 26-year-old woman. The two men continue to receive treatment at IGMH, while the woman is being treated at ADK Hospital.

A video circulating on social media shows the woman lying on the road with severe head injuries and heavy bleeding. She appeared motionless at the time, while the two men also showed visible injuries, one writhing in pain and the other lying still.

Police said the 21-year-old driver of one of the motorcycles involved did not hold a valid road vehicle driving licence. The incident remains under investigation.

Dangerous accidents in Male', Hulhumale' and the Sinamale' Bridge area have become a major concern. Key factors contributing to the rise in such incidents include speeding, illegal overtaking, running red lights, mobile phone use while driving, and unlicensed or inexperienced driving.

Police and the Ministry of Transport are implementing several measures to address the issue. These include increased road checkpoints and patrols, towing unlicensed and unregistered vehicles, speed-camera crackdowns, and fines for violators. Additional steps include installing speed bumps in accident-prone areas and improving road signs and street lighting. Helmet-wearing campaigns and road-safety awareness programmes are also underway.

Authorities say congestion in the capital and the failure of both drivers and pedestrians to fully follow road rules remain major challenges in preventing accidents.

Police statistics show that 2,100 accidents have been reported so far this year.