Mumbai: A speeding electric crossover utility vehicle rammed into a 19-year-old college girl, who survived the incident with injuries, and struck several people, including a police constable, and three stationary autorickshaws in Khar West early on Sunday. Khar police arrested driver Dinesh Yadav (36), a Goregaon resident, and charged vehicle owner Mehul Joshi (50), a businessman from Malad West. An FIR was registered, after which Yadav was put in police custody, while Joshi was served a notice and asked to appear for questioning when summoned.
The accident occurred around 1.35am near Social Bar on Khar Station Road. Police said the vehicle first knocked down Stacia Pereira (19), who was standing beside the road, and ran over her. Autorickshaw driver Asarfi Shrichand Mohto (30) suffered a shoulder injury, while his vehicle was damaged.
However, constable Sanjay Sanap alleged that Joshi gestured to Yadav to drive away and pushed the constable when he tried to stop the vehicle and help those injured,” said a Khar police officer. Police said they were awaiting Yadav’s medical report to verify the seizure claim. Sanap said the vehicle passed over Pereira before hitting his vehicle, two to three autorickshaws and other people. Shanay Bhosle and Shrivats Palepu suffered minor injuries,” said Sanap in the FIR.
“Joshi, who was returning home after partying in Khar and was seated in the rear, claimed Yadav had suffered a seizure. It eventually stopped after striking an autorickshaw. “With help from bystanders, police pushed the car back and pulled Pereira from underneath. She suffered severe injuries to her waist, hands and legs and was unable to move. Meanwhile, the police team seized the CUV car and took the driver and the businessman to the police station before they were charged with the offence.