Biker crushed to death by dumper in Vashi, car catches fire in separate mishaps in Navi Mumbai

In two separate road accidents in Navi Mumbai, a 29-year-old biker died after a speeding dumper rammed into his two-wheeler near Vashi toll junction on Monday morning while a 36-year-old escaped death after his car suddenly caught fire while waiting for signal at Moraj Circle, Sanpada on Sunday night.

An allegedly over-speeding and rashly-driven dumper rammed into the two-wheeler of Kishor Balkrushna Katkar just a few metres away from the Vashi toll Junction. Katkar had come to Navi Mumbai on Sunday and was returning home at midnight when the incident occurred.

“He was riding his bike on the Sion-Panvel Highway and was nearing the toll junction when a speeding dumper hit his motorcycle from behind. The impact of the accident was so severe that both legs of the victim got crushed,” said an official from Vashi police station.

Katkar was taken to Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) hospital in Vashi for preliminary treatment. “Taking into account the seriousness of his injury, he was referred to JJ Hospital but he passed away on the way. We have arrested the driver of the dumper and registered a case of rash and negligent driving, causing death,” said the official.

In another incident, the road leading to Ulwe via Palm Beach Road at Moraj Circle, Sanpada, witnessed major chaos and traffic jam after a car suddenly caught fire. The car, a Maruti MX driven by Imran Sayyed was waiting for signal when he noticed fumes coming from the vehicle. The driver immediately got out of the vehicle and managed to save his life even as the car was engulfed in flames within minutes.

Both the traffic police department and the fire department reached the spot and took necessary action. “The incident has been registered at Sanpada police station and traffic was regularised. The fire was doused, however the vehicle was completely charred,” said a traffic police official.