Drunk driver hits divider, two of his friends killed

A 22-year-old driving his four-wheeler heavily under the influence of alcohol hit a road divider in Mulund, leading to the death of two of his friends and injuries to himself and another friend. The accident occurred around 1.30am on Wednesday.

A 22-year-old driving his four-wheeler heavily under the influence of alcohol hit a road divider in Mulund, leading to the death of two of his friends and injuries to himself and another friend. The accident occurred around 1.30am on Wednesday.

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According to police, Pintu Chavan, the driver and owner of the vehicle, was so drunk that he could hardly drive straight and had been advised by his friends against driving. He is currently in a serious condition at the Sion hospital.

Chavan and his friends -Sachin Bhamne, 23, Gaurav Mandal, 27, and Hemant Dhasal, 21 - all Diva residents, had been partying on Tuesday night, said police. Senior inspector of Navghar police Ganesh Gaikwad said the four friends had consumed alcohol first at Dombivali, then at Thane, and were on their way to Vikhroli in Chavan's Xylo. Police are now trying to ascertain whether they were consuming alcohol in the car as well.

"The four took the Eastern Express Highway and were passing the Airoli bridge when Chavan lost control of the vehicle and hit a container. The vehicle then hit the divider and toppled to the other side," said Gaikwad.

Bystanders rushed all four to the hospital. Bhamne and Mandal, who were seated to the left, were declared dead on arrival. Chavan was sent to the Sion hospital. Dhasal, who had minor injuries and was discharged later, helped the police reconstruct the sequence of events.

Gaikwad said a case of rash driving and culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered against Chavan. They are awaiting the blood alcohol report following which relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act would be added to the case.