A 19-year-old BBA student from Kiwale sustained minor injuries early Monday morning when his car crashed through the railings of the Garware bridge on JM Road and landed on plants in the subway below. The incident occurred around 1:30 am. Medical tests revealed that the student was driving under the influence of alcohol.
Incident Details
The student, who is pursuing a BBA course at a prominent college in Pune, resides in a rented flat in a township in Kiwale. He originally hails from Jaipur, Rajasthan. The Deccan Gymkhana police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against him for rash and negligent driving as well as for damaging public property, according to Senior Inspector Girisha Nimbalkar.
According to the police, the student attended a party at a restaurant in Koregaon Park. After the party, he began driving his car towards Kiwale. While negotiating a right turn on the Garware bridge, he lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into the bridge's railings. The car then fell onto plants and mud in the subway, which fortunately cushioned the impact and saved the student from serious injury. He sustained only minor injuries in the accident.
History of Accidents on the Bridge
Senior Inspector Nimbalkar noted that over the past two years, there have been six accidents on the Garware bridge, resulting in the deaths of two two-wheeler riders. She emphasized that raising the height of the bridge's railings could potentially save lives. Most of these accidents occurred when vehicles were taking the right turn on the bridge while heading towards Good Luck Chowk from JM Road. Only one accident, involving a biker, happened when the rider was traveling from Khandojibaba Chowk towards Good Luck Chowk.
Legal Action and Safety Concerns
The police have taken legal action against the student under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act. The incident highlights the dangers of drunk driving and the need for improved safety measures on the bridge. Authorities are urged to consider increasing the railing height to prevent further tragedies.
