Drunk youth rams SUV into hatchback in Navi Mumbai; man killed, wife & daughter hurt

NAVI MUMBAI: An SUV driven by a drunk youth rear-ended a hatchback car at high speed, killing a 40-year-old Airoli resident and injuring his wife and four-year-old daughter, on Navi Mumbai's Palm Beach Road early Thursday. The accident occurred near Sarsole Jetty signal around 3.15 am when the family was returning from Belapur.

The car rolled over several times due to the crash and its entire right side was mangled, police said, adding that Manish Pednekar, who was at the wheel, died on the spot, while his wife Sneha (34), who was seated next to him, escaped with minor injuries, and their daughter, who was in the rear seat, is in critical condition in ICU. The SUV swerved off the road, rolled over and came to a halt lying on its side.

The SUV driver, Omkar More (26) of Sanpada, ran away from the spot, Nerul police sources said, adding that they found a box of beer bottles, which had broken due to the crash, in the damaged SUV abandoned at the spot.

Police, prima facie, suspect More was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. He was nabbed within three hours and his medical test at NMMC Hospital in Vashi confirmed that he had consumed alcohol, says senior inspector Brahmanand Naikwadi of Nerul police station.

SUV driver sent to police custody till tomorrow

The fatal mishap occurred near Sarsole Jetty traffic signal around 3.15 am Thursday when the family was returning home from Belapur.

Inspector Naikwadi said, “As the SUV's airbags opened, its driver More escaped with minor injuries. The car driver Pednekar was declared dead on arrival at the NMMC hospital, Nerul. Sneha has been admitted to Dr DY Patil Hospital, Nerul, and she is out of danger as informed by the doctors treating her. Ananya is critical due to severe injuries and is undergoing treatment in the ICU at Apollo hospital, Belapur.”

The inspector said an FIR has been registered against the SUV driver More, who has been arrested after being booked under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Motor Vehicle Act for rash and negligent driving causing death. He was later presented in a local court which remanded him to police remand till Nov 9, police said.

“We have also invoked section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act for the criminal offence of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol,” Naikwadi said.

An alert citizen, requesting anonymity said, “There are several pubs and discotheques in Belapur along the Palm Beach Road, which are open till early morning. The youngsters enjoy liquor sessions and drive cars after consuming liquor. The pub authorities need to ensure that they don’t drive after drinking. They should either take a cab to reach home or their personal car should be driven by someone who has not consumed alcohol.”