A tragic accident in Mumbai's Bhandup area, involving a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus, was caused by a grave error by the driver, police investigation has revealed. The driver, identified as Santosh Sawant, mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, leading to the vehicle lunging forward and knocking down pedestrians.
The Fatal Night in Bhandup
The incident occurred on Monday night around 9:30 PM. A stationary electric bus suddenly jumped forward and raced ahead, hitting nearly 12 people on the spot. Tragically, four of the injured individuals succumbed to their wounds. The police promptly registered a First Information Report (FIR) and arrested the driver, Santosh Sawant, following the deadly collision.
Driver's Claim Debunked by Police Probe
Initial statements from the driver suggested that a previous driver had left the bus in drive mode and only used the handbrake. However, a detailed probe by the Mumbai police, concluded on Friday, has firmly rejected this claim. Investigators stated that Sawant had already driven the bus for one complete round and had restarted it for a second trip when the accident happened.
"The driver pressed the accelerator instead of the brake due to which the stationary bus jumped at the spot and raced ahead," a senior police officer explained. The officer added that while Sawant initially tried to mislead the investigation by blaming a previous driver, it is now clear he was lying. The error was solely on the part of driver Santosh Sawant.
Arrest and Technical Examination
The police have confirmed that there was no technical fault with the electric bus. The vehicle was examined thoroughly, and the fault was found to be entirely human. Santosh Sawant, a permanent BEST employee with nearly two decades of driving experience, had been operating electric buses for only the last three months. Following his arrest, he was remanded in police custody until Saturday.
This accident has sent shockwaves through the city, raising serious questions about driver training and safety protocols, especially concerning the transition to newer electric vehicle fleets within public transport systems.
