How did the accident happen?
Rishabh Pant met with a car accident around 5:30 am in the morning on Friday. According to the police, Pant fell asleep while driving, which led to his car colliding with a divider on the Narsan border of Roorkee, Uttarakhand.
As per reports, Pant was traveling from Delhi to Roorkee to visit his family. He was alone in the car when he met with the accident on the Delhi-Dehradun highway.
Pant fell asleep while driving
"He was going to Roorkee to meet his relatives. The accident happened because he fell asleep at the wheel a kilometre ahead of Narsan towards Roorkee," SK Singh, the Superintendent of Police, Haridwar (Rural) told ANI.
Lack of proper rest before driving can reduce your mental alertness and awareness. This means that your reflexes can slow down and won’t be able to timely manage any situation on the road. This can put you at a high-risk of life-threatening accidents.
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Injuries he sustained
After colliding with the divider, Pant’s Mercedes car caught fire. He broke the windscreen to escape from the vehicle, as per reports.
Pant has two cuts on his forehead and a ligament tear in his right knee. He has also hurt his right wrist, ankle, toe and suffered abrasion injuries on his back.
Condition is now stable
Pant was initially taken to a local hospital and has now been shifted to the Max hospital in Dehradun. According to hospital authorities, Pant's condition is stable
"Cricketer Rishabh Pant is under the observation of Orthopedics and plastic surgeons. His condition is stable. A detailed medical bulletin will be released once he's examined. Thereafter, we'll take the next steps," said Dr Ashish Yagnik, Max Hospital, Dehradun.
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Crucial DON'TS to avoid car accidents
Apart from falling asleep while driving, several factors can put you at risk of car accidents. Here are some important don’t to avoid while driving:
- Do not cross the speed limit: Driving beyond the speed limit is against the law, dangerous for you as well as for the other people driving on the road.
- Do not forget to wear your seat belt: A seat belt can protect you from serious injuries and life-threatening conditions in case of an accident.
- Do not tailgate: Make sure you keep appropriate distance from other vehicles on the road.
- Do not drink and drive: Alcohol can impair your judgment while driving, which can put you at high-risk for accidents.
- Do not use your mobile phone: This can distract you from paying attention to the road and lead to an accident.
Medical factors of falling asleep behind the wheel
The cause behind why or how Pant fell asleep is not yet known.
When it comes to medical factors, Sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS) has been identified as the most common cause of habitual drowsy driving. Other important sleep disturbances include chronic insomnia, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement in sleep.
Intake of medications can also induce sleep problems. In case there is no sleep disorder, a driver may experience sleepiness due to preventable causes like sleep deprivation from poor sleep habits.