One Killed and Five Injured as Speeding SUV Crashes Into Vehicles in Navi Mumbai

A 32-year-old Scooty rider was killed and five other people were injured on Tuesday afternoon when a speeding electric SUV crashed into multiple vehicles and a roadside food stall in Taloja Phase-1, Navi Mumbai. The accident occurred at approximately 12:30 PM in Sector 10, barely 200 metres from a local police chowky.

The deceased Scooty rider was identified as Nadeem Khan, 32, a resident of Taloja Phase-1. He was declared brought dead at MGM Hospital in Kamothe, where the five injured victims were taken for treatment. The collision completely mangled a Scooty, a tempo, and an autorickshaw before the SUV finally crashed into a roadside wada pav stall.

Among the injured was Ramdulare Gupta, 37, a security guard from Taloja Phase-1 who was waiting outside the stall. Gupta sustained minor burn injuries to his cheeks, neck, and back when a vessel filled with hot oil used for frying wadas fell on him.

The other injured persons include Sharafuddin Ali, 43, a metal refinery employee from Sector 10 who suffered severe bruises to his left leg; Sunny Nishad, 33, from Kalamboli, who sustained multiple injuries to his head, right shoulder, and back; Vignesh Pansare, 17, a college student from Sector 10 who fractured his leg; and Mohammad Sheikh, 28, a tempo driver from Taloja village, who sustained minor head and abdomen injuries.

The driver of the SUV, identified as 22-year-old Arafat Patel, fled the scene immediately after the vehicle came to a halt at the wada pav stall. Patel is a resident of Taloja village, and the electric SUV is registered in his father's name, who is a local builder.

Police Inspector (crime) Sagar Nikam stated that a special team has been formed to trace Patel. Investigators observed the accused fleeing the spot on CCTV footage recovered from the locality.