An 18-year-old college student died and her friend was injured after their motorcycle came into contact with a dumper on the Western Express Highway in Borivali East, Mumbai, on Wednesday afternoon, prompting police to register a case of rash driving and negligence against the heavy-vehicle driver.
The crash occurred at around 1.45 pm on the northbound arm of the Western Express Highway. Police said the motorcycle was travelling with Srisha Shetty seated pillion and Nitin Nagwekar, also 18, riding the vehicle. Both were first-year college students and lived in the same suburb.
According to the Kasturba Marg Police, the dumper was moving in the centre of the road when the motorcycle came into contact with its left rear side. The impact caused both occupants to fall from the motorcycle. Shetty suffered serious head injuries, while Nagwekar was also injured in the crash.
The two students were taken to Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivali for treatment. Shetty later succumbed to her injuries. Police identified her as a first-year commerce student at a Kandivali-based college. Nagwekar was receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the collision.
The dumper driver was identified as Saddam Shaikh, 31. Kasturba Marg Police registered a case against him for rash driving and negligence and subsequently booked him. Police served Shaikh with a notice in connection with the case.
The crash took place on one of Mumbai’s busiest north-south road corridors, where motorcycles, private vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles share a high-volume carriageway. The police account currently describes the point of contact and the injuries but does not provide further details on the speed of either vehicle, road conditions or whether any other vehicles were involved.
The case remains with Kasturba Marg Police, which will proceed on the basis of the recorded complaint, the available evidence and the investigation into the circumstances of the collision.
