Mumbai: 'This accident has changed everything', family speaks after fatal Vile Parle crash

The stretch near Mogibai Market on Railway Station Road in Vile Parle East, where the fatal accident occurred on Tuesday evening. Pics/Satej Shinde

Police have arrested the driver, Vilas Shridhar Gavhankar, 44, a Wadala resident who works as a professional driver. According to investigators, Gavhankar claimed he was driving an unfamiliar vehicle and panicked, accidentally pressing the accelerator instead of the brake. A 41-year-old woman was killed, and two senior citizens suffered serious injuries on Wednesday evening in Vile Parle. The vehicle involved is an MG ZS EV owned by a businessman from Matunga.

Critically injured

>> Nirmala Premji Dangya, 61
>> Premji Bhai Dangya, 66 Premji Bhai Dangya, a retired BMC employee, and his wife Nirmala remain admitted to the trauma ICU at RN Cooper Hospital.

Offences
>> BNS Sections 106, 125(B), 281
>> Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act

Witnesses claim
>> At least 6-8 people may have been hit

Family speak

Jiten Premji Dangya, son of the injured couple
‘My parents were active and independent despite their age. This accident has changed everything. We also faced delays during the FIR process, faced difficulties recovering parents' belongings and problems securing ICU admission at Cooper hospital; we shifted from Gawade hospital, as hospital staff questioned our ability to pay the bills'

What police say

Priya Thorat, senior police inspector, Vile Parle police station
"We detained the accused at the spot and rushed the victims to the hospital. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused is a driver by profession. He told us this was not his usual vehicle, and he was not familiar with it. We are investigating whether the crash was caused by driver error, vehicle malfunction, or a combination of both."

Eyewitness account

Harshit Shah, owner, Centrex Opticians
‘The car finally stopped after crashing into a red electricity service box near my shop. The driver appeared shaken and panicked. There was also an elderly woman seated in the rear seat. We brought her inside our shop and informed her family'

Ram Kapoor, pan shop owner
‘The car came speeding down the road at around 70-80 kmph. It hit a woman on a scooter and then swerved towards the footpath before crashing into the electricity box. Had it continued straight, many more people could have been injured'