Speeding car mows down 76-year-old former cop, injures biker

Former Mumbai police sub inspector, Tukaram Sawant, was killed and a biker injured when a speeding car hit them in Mulund West. The driver fled the scene but has been arrested.

MUMBAI: A 76-year-old former sub inspector of Mumbai police, on his way to a temple, was killed and a biker injured when a speeding car hit them in Mulund West on Tuesday.

HT Image

After hitting them, the car crashed into a road divider and the driver fled the spot fearing an assault from people around. The Mulund police have arrested the accused, Amreesh Yadav, 22, for causing death due to negligence. The biker has been admitted to a hospital and is said to be stable.

According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Tukaram Sawant, a resident of Narmada Devi society on MG Road. He lived with his son Savinay Sawant, 46, his daughter-in-law and a 10-year-old grandson.

Tukaram, who retired from service 15 years ago, regularly visited Shankar temple and returned by 9pm. On Tuesday around 8pm, he was walking on BP road, when he was hit by a car driven by Yadav, who instead of hitting the brake, stepped on the accelerator. The car went on to hit a biker, who was on his way home.

When Tukaram did not return home by 9pm, Savinay called on his mobile phone but did not get any response and therefore went out to check on him.

While heading towards the temple, he noticed people and policemen gathered at a spot. He was told that an elderly man was injured in an accident and had been taken to Mulund General hospital by the police.

When Savinay went to the hospital, he found that his father was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The police later identified Yadav and arrested him. “He told us that he was scared that the people would beat him up and therefore, he got off the car and fled,” said senior inspector Kantilal Kothambire.

The injured biker has been admitted to a private hospital where he is undergoing treatment and is now stable, Kothambire added.

The police said their team has visited the accident spot, the hospital and have recorded statements of witnesses and victims and have registered an FIR.

The police have booked the car driver under sections 279 (rash driving), 304A (causing death due to negligence), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code and section 184 (driving dangerously) of the Motor Vehicle Act 1988.