In a horrendous accident on Friday morning, a driver of a car was killed on the spot, while the four co-passengers were critically injured after the car rammed into a milk centre at Shivaji Park in Dadar.
The victims have been identified as Rohit S Khot (28), the deceased, a resident of Dadar, Arun Mati (40), Alok Kolhad (40), Ravikanth G. Shankersingh (40), and Gaurav S Khot (35).
The accident occurred around 4 am, when Khot allegedly lost control of the speeding Maruti Swift, and rammed into a street-side Sarita Aarey Milk Centre, situated on a footpath opposite Dadar Catering College.
The impact was so severe, that the car before ramming into the milk centre collided and uprooted the railings, lamp post and a tree, adjacent to the centre.
Suresh R. Unawane, senior inspector of the Shivaji Park police station, said, “The injured were rushed to the Sion Hospital and under observation. We have sent the blood samples to fathom whether Khot was driving under the influence of alcohol.”
Sachin Kawthankar, brother of the milk centre owner, said, “Rash driving on this road has become a menace for the locals. For past several years, the locals are witnessing illegal road races, and had approached the police for the same. However, the police are yet to take action.”
“We have suffered a loss of around Rs.1 lakh as the shop has been completely damaged. We now have to wait for the state to provide help, if any. In the meanwhile, we are looking for different ways to earn our livelihood as the centre will now be closed down for a month,” said Sachin, a part of the 10-member Kawthankar family.