Birthday bash turns tragic: 12 hurt after jeep rams into truck in Matunga, cops suspect driver was drunk

Police suspect that the driver of the jeep — identified as Paraag Shirke, 31 — was drunk

Twelve people were injured when a jeep collided into a truck on Nanalal Mehta flyover at Matunga early on Sunday. The jeep was carrying 11 people who were on their way to Marine Drive to celebrate their friend Ajay Jadhav’s birthday, said the police. The police suspect that the driver of the jeep — identified as Paraag Shirke, 31 — was drunk. They have sent his blood sample for testing.

The mangled remains of the SUV in Matunga. (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)

The other jeep occupant were identified as Ketan Rasem, 23, Vijay Jadhav, 29, Pratamesh Kadam, 22, Ritik Kamekar, 17, Mangesh Sawant, 37, Siddesh Kadam, 21, Megan Parep, 25, Harshat Jadhav, 26 and Ashish Sawant, 32.

Only three people, including the two drivers, were grievously injured.

Senior inspector Balasaheb Kakkad Matunga from police station said, “Shirke lost control over the jeep, crashed it into a divider before ramming it into a truck in the opposite lane at 2am. The truck was driven by Mohommad Nasir Khan.”

Khan, Shirke and Ashish were left with fractured hands.

“There was a cake and several bottles of beer inside the car and we suspect that Shirke was driving under the influence of alcohol. We are awaiting medical reports,” sadi Kakkad

The police have registered the case under Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC along with Section 184 under Motor vehicle Act.