India's First Skoda Octavia RS Crash — Brutal Accident Kills One, Leaves 3 Injured

India's first-ever crash involving the 2017 Skoda Octavia RS has been reported in Kerala.

Updated: Friday, November 17, 2017, 14:58 [IST]

Czech carmaker Skoda launched the Octavia RS performance sedan in India on September 1, 2017. Now, barely two and half months later, reports from Kerala state that one of the 250 Octavia RS sedans bought to India for 2017 was involved in fatal accident in the state's capital of Thiruvananthapuram.

According to multiple news reports from Kerala, 20-year-old Adarsh, the son of a local businessman was behind the wheel of the Octavia RS when the crash occurred on Raj Bhavan road at around 11 o'clock in the night.

The Octavia RS was apparently travelling at a high rate of speed when it crashed into an auto rickshaw, before hitting an electricity pole and flipping over.

The crash badly mangled the Octavia RS and firefighters were called to extricate the four occupants of the sedan to help transport them to the nearest hospital. The auto driver and the Octavia's occupants were taken to the hospital where 20-year-old Adarsh was declared dead on arrival.

Out of the three remaining occupants of the Octavia RS, two are critical while the third suffered minor injuries. The auto driver is also recuperating in the hospital from head injuries suffered in the crash. Our condolences go out to the victim's family and we also send our prayers out for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The Skoda Octavia RS is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 227bhp @ 5,500 - 6,200rpm and 350Nm of torque @ 1,500 - 4,500rpm which is sent to the front wheels through a 6-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The Skoda Octavia RS sprints from 0-100kph in 6.8 seconds and continues to pick up speed till it tops out at 250kph.

Despite what the crash suggests, the Octavia RS is considered to be one of the safest sedans on sale in India with 9 airbags, ABS with EBD and hydraulic brake assist, traction control, electronic differential lock, electronic stability control all featured as standard equipment.

DriveSpark Thinks!

The first-ever crash of the 2017 Skoda Octavia RS is yet another reminder of the dangers of speed. No matter how safe your car may be, it is always important to remember to obey the rules of the road, no matter how open the roads in front of you may seem.