Mumbai: Drink driving on Christmas eve kills 23-year-old

A 23-year-old woman was killed in an accident on the Western Express Highway, when she was on her way home from a Christmas party early on Thursday.

A 23-year-old woman was killed in an accident on the Western Express Highway, when she was on her way home from a Christmas party early on Thursday. Her friend Pradeep Shah, 30, who had allegedly consumed alcohol, was driving the car.

There were five people in the car and the police suspect that they had all consumed alcohol. The drink driving section has not yet been invoked as the medical report is awaited.

Lalnunthari Samate was sitting next to the driver in a Wagon R car. Her colleagues, Chongromoi Guete, Rimi Fimrang Khum, and Shah’s friend Jayesh Bhalia, 38, were sitting at the back. They told the police they were going to a hotel near the domestic airport for dinner, when the accident took place.

“As they crossed the Vakola flyover, Shah tried to overtake an autorickshaw when he lost control. He crashed into the wall of the bridge, but the car continued moving at high speed. It tumbled 20 metres ahead, when Samate fell out,” said Raksha Maharao, senior inspector, Vile Parle police station.

Shah surrendered a few hours later and was taken for medical tests. His blood report is awaited.

“Prima facie, Shah was drunk. In his statement, he admitted that all five had consumed alcohol in the pub. He was produced before the Bandra holiday court and released on bail,” said Maharao.