PUNE: A college student (19), riding pillion on a friend’s motorcycle on their way to get Covid-19 vaccines, fell off the bike and was run over by a speeding car near NIBM Chowk in Kondhwa on Tuesday.
Originally from Wai and a resident of Gultekdi in the city, Gayatri Ithape succumbed to her injuries the same day in a private hospital.
The victim’s friend, Prathamesh Mandhare, was riding the bike and lodged an FIR relating to causing death due to negligence under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Motor Vehicle Act with the Kondhwa police on Wednesday. Mandhare is also from Wai and resides at Warje Malwadi in the city.
“Ithape and Mandhare were headed for Covid-19 vaccination centre in around 1.45pm on Tuesday. When they were passing via NIBM-Undri road, an autorickshaw plying ahead suddenly applied brakes,” inspector Deepak Barge of the Kondhwa police said.
“The situation forced Mandhare to slam the brakes hard. The impact of the sudden deceleration was such that Gayatri panicked and lost her balance. She fell off the bike on the right side of the road and run over by a speeding car coming from the rear,” Barge said. Mandhare escaped unhurt as he had fallen on the left side of the road.
The car driver, with the help of some passersby, took the girl to a hospital but she succumbed to her injuries. “We have served a notice to the car driver asking him to join the police investigation, as he was booked under a bailable offence. We have seized the car,” Barge said. Mandhare told TOI that he was still in a shock and did not wish to comment on the accident.
