Car dealer Mohit Suresh Soni killed by sudden airbag deployment in Kashimira

A 25-year-old car dealer was killed on Thursday afternoon near Pleasant Park in Kashimira, Mira Road, when a steering wheel airbag suddenly deployed and struck him in the neck during a vehicle inspection. The deceased, identified as Mohit Suresh Soni, was conducting a routine check on a second-hand car before accepting it for sale to a third party.

Soni, who was a resident of Tiara Hills in Mira Road, had pulled over by the roadside to examine the vehicle when the freak accident occurred. According to Rajendra Kamble, senior police inspector of the Kashimira police station, the steering wheel airbag unexpectedly deployed while Soni was inspecting the car.

As the airbag inflated, its cover slammed into the right side of Soni’s neck with tremendous force. The impact caused a grievous neck injury and severe haemorrhaging. Senior Police Inspector Kamble confirmed that the impact proved fatal.

Passers-by who witnessed the aftermath of the deployment alerted the police. Emergency responders rushed Soni to the Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Government Hospital in Bhayandar. However, doctors who examined him upon arrival declared him dead.

The Kashimira police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) regarding the incident. Assistant Police Inspector Panmand has been assigned to investigate the case. Soni’s brother, Kuldip, has urged the police department to conduct a detailed inquiry into the exact circumstances that led to the sudden deployment and his brother's death.

To assist with the technical aspects of the investigation, officers have sought the help of the Regional Transport Office (RTO). RTO officials will examine the vehicle to check for any mechanical or electronic defects that could have triggered the airbag. Additionally, police are currently tracing the original owner of the car to find out if the vehicle had previously shown any faults or if any similar issues had been reported in the past.