Thirty one-year-old Arti Karekar was crushed to death by a Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) bus near the Vashi fire brigade traffic junction on Saturday afternoon.
The bus was on its way to Panvel station when the accident took place at 1.18 pm.
Following the incident, an irate crowd pelted stones at the bus and beat up driver Rajeev Katkar and the conductor. Though Katkar managed to escape, he later surrendered himself to the Vashi police, who arrested him.
"The bus driver was trying to jump the signal and overtake Karekar, who was riding a Scooty, from the wrong side, when he hit her. She got crushed under the rear tyre, which went over her torso," said eyewitness Ashok Singh. He rushed her to a hospital, but she was declared dead on arrival.
Said another eyewitness Deepak Chauhan: "All those who saw the accident got angry and pelted stones at the bus and broke the glass panes."
After identifying Karekar from her passbook and a railway identity card in her purse, former corporator Raju Shinde informed her family in Sanpada about the accident.
An inconsolable Suresh Madkekar, Aarti's father, said: "She was going to New Bombay High School for her son's Open Day. Who is responsible for her death? My child is gone."
{{/usCountry}}An inconsolable Suresh Madkekar, Aarti's father, said: "She was going to New Bombay High School for her son's Open Day. Who is responsible for her death? My child is gone."
{{/usCountry}}Madkekar said the Scooty had been bought recently and so had a temporary registration number. He also informed Karekar's husband Deepak, who was in Mumbai.
The Vashi police have booked the bus driver for negligent driving leading to death.
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