Preliminary probe points to gear mode error in fatal Dadar BEST crash

The BEST electric bus that crashed into multiple vehicles near Plaza Cinema junction in Dadar on Monday. Preliminary inquiries indicate the vehicle may have surged forward after being left in driving mode. Pic/Ashish Raje

A preliminary BEST inquiry into Monday's fatal Dadar bus crash has found that the electric bus may have been left in driving mode instead of neutral or parking mode, causing it to surge forward uncontrollably after the hand brake was released.

BEST officials said the driver attempted to minimise casualties by steering the speeding bus towards a curve and the Tilak Bridge incline to reduce its speed.

Driver profile

Vikas Padare
Age: 44
Employee ID: 19989
Joined contractor SMTPL: January 2020
Joined EVEY Trans (Olectra Green Tech): March 2021
Experience: More than five years of operating electric buses

The bigger concern

The Dadar crash has once again raised questions about the safety record of wet-lease buses, which now make up a significant portion of BEST's fleet.

Compensation paid

Total payout: Rs 14.2 cr
Injury cases: Rs 5.66 cr
Fatal accident cases: Rs 8.54 cr

Driver accountability

BEST-operated buses
Drivers found guilty: 205
Drivers suspended: 45
Drivers dismissed: 0

Wet-lease buses

Drivers dismissed: 8
Data on guilty drivers:
Not available
Data on suspended drivers: Not available

What experts want

>> Mandatory driver certification
>> Mumbai-specific defensive-driving training
>> Regular refresher courses
>> Fatigue monitoring
>> GPS and telematics tracking
>> Vehicle fitness audits
>> Stricter penalties for repeated violations
>> Safety-linked performance indicators in contracts

Timeline: Recent major BEST bus accidents

Dec 9, 2024, Kurla West
>> Bus travelled nearly 200 metres uncontrollably.
>> Crashed into vehicles and pedestrians.
>> Entered a residential society.
>> 7 killed, 42 injured.

Dec 15, 2024, Govandi
>> Electric bus ran over a motorcyclist at Shivaji Nagar junction.
>> 1 killed.

Dec 29-30, 2025, Bhandup West
>> Bus lost control while reversing near railway station.
>> Crashed into pedestrians at bus stop.
>> 4 killed, 10 injured.

May 2026, Andheri West
>> BEST conductor killed in chain collision involving four buses near Amboli Naka.
Late May 2026, Malad East
>> Nine-year-old boy killed after BEST bus hit bicycle.

June 2026 | Malad East
>> BEST bus rammed into parked car at Pushpa Park.
>> 50-year-old man killed.

June 8, 2026 | Dadar
>> Bus lost control near Plaza Cinema around 9.30 am.
>> Hit two cars, a cab and two motorcycles.
>> 1 killed, 3 injured.
>> Driver detained.

What numbers suggest

The data indicates that bus ownership alone does not explain accident trends. Experts say the larger issue is whether safety oversight, training, fatigue monitoring and accountability mechanisms have kept pace with the growing use of outsourced operations.

Expert view

According to transport expert Aditya Rane of the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP), the problem is not simply whether a driver is employed by BEST or a contractor.

Key takeaway

70% of all accidents involved wet-lease buses.
91% of all fatalities involved wet-lease buses.
76% of all injuries involved wet-lease buses.

FY 2025-26 accident data

Total accidents: 97
Category BEST buses Wet-lease buses
Accidents 29 68
Fatalities 3 31
Injuries 21 68

RTI data over five years

Category Contractor buses BEST buses
Accidents 482 352
Deaths 37 51