Drunk driver rams Mercedes into autorickshaws in Mumbai

According to the Santacruz police, the accident occurred around 5am on Juhu Tara road, when 27-year-old Imran Bhatkar was heading to Santacruz (West).

Holi started on an ugly note for two autorickshaw drivers, as a speeding Mercedes Benz rammed into them on Monday morning, said police.

According to the Santacruz police, the accident occurred around 5am on Juhu Tara road, when 27-year-old Imran Bhatkar was heading to Santacruz (West). (HT)

According to the Santacruz police, the accident occurred around 5am on Juhu Tara road, when 27-year-old Imran Bhatkar was heading to Santacruz (West).

At Royal junction, he lost control of the vehicle and drove into two autorickshaw drivers at the spot.

One of them, Buchra Akruti, 27, suffered head injuries and is in the ICU of a government hospital, police said.

His friend, Vishnu Sawant, 28, also a rickshaw driver, suffered a fracture to his leg and is out of danger.

“Instead of helping the victims, the driver sped away. Passers-by chased down the car and informed us about the accident. Bhatkar was reeking of alcohol at the time of arrest,” said a police officer.

He has been booked under section 279 (rash driving), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code and 134 A and B (for escaping from the spot without rendering help to victims and non-cooperation with police officer) and 185 (driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs) of the Motor Vehicle Act.

He was granted bail by a magistrate’s court.