Drunk at wheel: College principal runs woman over in Navi Mumbai

A 54-year-old woman was killed while another one was severely injured after a man, who was drunk, drove his vehicle into a group of people in the wee hours of Sunday at Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai.

A 54-year-old woman was killed while another one was severely injured after a man, who was drunk, drove his vehicle into a group of people in the wee hours of Sunday at Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai.

According to Dhanraj Dayama, assistant commissioner of police (Turbhe division), Sunil Chavan, 48, the principal of an engineering college at Kopar Khairne, was driving in a heavily inebriated state from Seawoods to Vashi in his Hyundai Accent.

“There was a rally or a prayer walk held by some 30 people affiliated to the Sacred Hearts School in Vashi, which had started from Belapur between 3 and 3.30am,” said Shekhar Bhagde, senior police inspector of Turbhe police station.

“Chavan, who consumed alcohol at a bar in Seawoods, was on his way home to Vashi. He lost control of the vehicle and drove directly into the group of people around 3:38am,” Bhagde added.

Chavan ran over two women — J Kuttikal, 54, and Judy Mutello, 51. While Kuttikal died, Mutello sustained grievous injuries and is currently recuperating at a Navi Mumbai hospital. Kuttikal was a resident of Kopar Khairne, the latter lives at Nerul. The purpose of the rally is not clear yet.

The deceased is reportedly survived by her son, Amit, and her husband, who is believed to be suffering from a terminal illness, according to police sources.

After the accident, Chavan was taken into custody and placed under arrest. He was charged with sections related to rash, negligent and drunk driving under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA).

He was produced in a holiday magistrate court on Sunday morning, which had remanded him to judicial custody.