An unknown auto-rickshaw driver allegedly struck a delivery boy's motorcycle in a hit-and-run incident early Thursday morning, after which a truck ran over him on the Western Express Highway in Santacruz East, police said.
Victim and Incident Details
The victim, identified as Akhilesh Chaudhary (also known as Kamath), aged 35, was employed with an online food delivery platform. He was on his way to deliver a food parcel when the incident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. near the New Agripada Bus Stop, according to the Vakola police.
Police Investigation
The Vakola police have registered a case against unknown vehicle drivers. No arrests have been made so far. Police stated that they gathered details of the incident from an eyewitness.
"Ashutosh Valanju, a passerby who witnessed the incident, said that an auto-rickshaw hit Chaudhary's bike. He was thrown off the motorcycle, and a truck following behind ran over him. Valanju rushed him to VN Desai Hospital, where he was declared dead before admission. The police team has sought CCTV footage to track down the accused vehicles involved in this hit-and-run case that led to Chaudhary's death," said a police officer from the Vakola police station.
Family's Account
In his complaint, the victim's elder brother, Nilambar (44), a resident of Palghar, said: "At 1:30 a.m., while I was at home, my friend Navin Kamat from my village called and informed me that Akhilesh had an accident and was admitted to VN Desai Hospital. I immediately left home and reached the hospital at 3:30 a.m., where my nephew Arun Chaudhary and Navin Kamat were present. Arun told me that while Akhilesh was going for a food parcel delivery, an unknown rickshaw hit him near New Agripada Bus Stop on the Western Express Highway in Santacruz East, Mumbai, causing him to fall on the road, and then a truck coming from behind ran over him."
Hit-and-Run
Police said both the rickshaw driver and the truck driver fled the scene without stopping. The eyewitness, Ashutosh Valanju, brought the victim to the hospital for treatment and informed the deceased's family members about the incident, police added.
