Car crashes past barrier, three passengers escape with minor injuries; driver booked

Three persons travelling in a private taxi had a narrow escape as the four-wheeler crashed past the barrier on the sea-facing road in Worli opposite the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) early on Thursday morning and came to a halt on the rocky outcrop close to the water. The driver of the car has been placed under arrest.

The incident took place at 4.55 am on Lala Lajpat Rai Road. The private taxi was travelling towards Mahim.

The police said it had been hired by the three persons from South Mumbai. “The passengers are friends who stay at a lodge in Santacruz. One of them is from Mumbai, while the other two are from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh,” said an officer at Tardeo police station.

The police said the three had been sightseeing in South Mumbai all of Wednesday night and Thursday morning and visited the Gateway of India and Marine Drive before booking a taxi for Mahim. “The taxi driver told us that just as he was about to negotiate a turn on the road before the NSCI, he felt sleepy and lost control of the car,” said the officer.

The WagonR crashed through the metal safety barrier and came to halt on the tetrapods installed below the road as wave breakers. “The men in the car were not seriously injured and were able to climb out of the vehicle,” said the officer.

One of the three, Aditya Tawde (23), from Mumbai, has lodged a complaint at Tardeo police station and driver Abdul Shaikh (35) has been booked for rash and negligent driving and causing hurt. Shaikh, the police said, has been placed under arrest.