Kamal Ghorui
A Tata Sierra SUV fell into a construction pit near Panchpakhadi in Thane (West) during a test drive after the driver lost control. The SUV had been taken out from a nearby showroom for the drive. According to reports, the vehicle was being driven by a woman when she lost control on the road. The SUV first struck three parked vehicles – an auto rickshaw and two motorcycles, before moving towards a nearby construction site.The vehicle then broke through barricades placed around the site and plunged into the pit. The incident left three people injured. There were three occupants in the SUV at the time – the woman driving, a relative accompanying her and a dealership employee present during the test drive. Rescue teams from the Thane Municipal Corporation’s disaster management cell reached the spot and brought the occupants out of the vehicle. The injured were later taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances that led to the accident.
The SUV’s airbags deployed during the crash, helping protect the occupants. Also, the vehicle’s body structure appeared to absorb the impact without major structural collapse. Observations at the scene suggested that the SUV’s high-strength steel construction helped it retain its shape after the fall. The vehicle fell into the construction pit from an estimated height of around 20 feet. Despite the drop, the cabin area did not appear to be heavily deformed, which may have helped limit the severity of injuries to the occupants.Tata Sierra safety featuresIn terms of safety, the Tata Sierra gets six airbags, ISOFIX anchors, an electronic parking brake and all-wheel disc brakes come as standard, along with hill-hold assist. The SUV also offers a 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, ABS with EBD and a Level 2+ ADAS suite with 22 features.Talking about the engine options next, the new Sierra is offered with three engine options – a 1.5-litre Kryotec turbo diesel with 118 hp of power and 280 nm torque. Another two engines are the newly developed 1.5-litre NA petrol with 106 hp power and 145 nm torque and a 1.5-litre Hyperion turbo petrol engine with 160 hp power and 260 nm torque.
