5 killed in horrific car crash on Western Express Highway

MUMBAI: Five friends in their early 20s, out on a late night drive, were killed when their speeding car crashed into a tree on the Western Express Highway near Vile Parle on Thursday.

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The accident took place sometime before 5am near Centaur bridge on the southbound stretch of the highway. The victims were identified as Muzammil Makhnojia, 22, who was driving the car, Dilip Solanki,21, Junaid Soni,22, Rashida Shaikh,25 and Afsar Ali Khan, 22.

The speed made the impact of the crash enormous and the fire brigade had to pull the bodies out of the mangled remains of the vehicle.

An initial probe showed no other vehicle was involved in the crash. Police sources said Makhnojia may have dozed off at the wheel as they were driving late at night. Makhnojia has been booked for rash driving and the police took the victims’ blood samples to check for alcohol. “They were speeding, the driver lost control and the car hit the footpath. The car then skid for 20 metres and crashed into the tree,” said a police official who was at the spot.