Two young men died and four sustained injuries after an SUV they were travelling in lost control and overturned near Rhutu Enclave Society on Ghodbunder Road in Thane at around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday. The police have registered a case against one of the injured youths who was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.
Turning turtle
The Kasar Wadavli police said after overturning, the Mahindra Scorpio spinned two or three times before coming to a halt in the middle of the road. Motorists and local residents, who were woken up by the crash, informed the police control room about the incident and police teams and ambulances were rushed to the spot. The six youths were removed from the vehicle and rushed to Jupiter Hospital in Thane, where two of them were declared dead before admission. The remaining youths are being treated for lacerations and fractures.
Namdeo Tele, Senior Police Inspector at Kasar Wadavli police station, said, “Medical tests have confirmed that Rahul Pawar, who was driving the vehicle, was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. The six youths are residents of Wagle Estate.”
Drive goes awry
The deceased have been identified as Chetan Chavan (22) and Nikhil Palan (24). The injured include Santosh Sanghvi (26), Ravi Bangre (24) and Ankit Solanki (24).
Mr. Tele said, “The six friends met at Upvan area on Wednesday night and consumed liquor. They then went for a drive and decided to eat dinner on the way, when the accident occured.”
Pawar has been charged with causing death and injury and endangering the life owing to rash and negligent conduct under the Indian Penal Code. He has also been charged with rash driving and driving under the influence of alcohol under the Motor Vehicles Act.
He will be arrested as soon as he is discharged from hospital, police said.
