In a tragic incident on Tuesday evening in Bhandup West, Mumbai, a 33-year-old man lost his life after being hit by a truck that was reportedly moving without a driver. The victim, identified as Sajid Azmi, was on a scooter with two friends when the accident occurred on Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Road under a metro rail bridge.
Sequence of Events
Azmi, along with his friends Shahrukh Chowdhary and Zaid Shaikh, was en route to enjoy ice cream. According to the police, a truck approached from the opposite direction and collided with their scooter. Chowdhary, who was riding the scooter, and Shaikh managed to jump off, escaping harm. Unfortunately, Azmi, seated between his friends, couldn’t dismount in time. He fell, and his leg became trapped under the scooter. The unmanned truck, moving at a slow pace, ran over him before halting after crashing into the footpath.
Chowdhary recounted the harrowing experience: “Initially, I thought there was a driver in the truck who would take a turn or apply brakes upon seeing our bike. But as I got closer, I realized there was no one in the driver’s seat, and the truck was heading straight at us. I veered left and jumped off to save myself, but my friend Sajid got stuck under the scooter, and the truck ran over him.”
Immediate Aftermath
Shaikh and Chowdhary rushed Azmi to Criticare Hospital in an autorickshaw. Despite their efforts, Azmi succumbed to his injuries around 1 a.m. on Wednesday. Azmi, a resident of Pathan Colony in Bhandup West, worked as an area sales manager for a private firm.
Ongoing Investigation
The incident has left authorities puzzled. Senior Inspector Dattatray Khandagale of the Bhandup police station stated that they are working to identify the truck’s driver and determine how the vehicle was operational without anyone at the wheel. A case has been registered against an unknown individual under sections 106(1) for causing death by negligence and 289 for negligent use of machinery endangering human life, as per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
“We are investigating how the truck, with its engine running, ended up on the road without a driver. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has been informed and will inspect the vehicle, providing a report soon,” Khandagale added.
Wider Implications
This incident raises concerns about vehicle safety and the potential hazards of unattended vehicles. While discussions around autonomous vehicles and their safety are prevalent globally, this case appears to involve a traditional vehicle moving without a driver, possibly due to mechanical failure or human negligence.
In recent years, there have been debates about the safety of self-driving technology. For instance, a recent Cybertruck crash has raised alarm bells about Tesla’s self-driving software.
However, the Bhandup incident seems to be a different scenario, emphasizing the need for stringent safety measures for all vehicles, autonomous or not.
Community Response
The local community in Bhandup is in shock. Residents are urging authorities to implement stricter regulations to prevent such tragedies. Ensuring that heavy vehicles are securely parked and cannot move without a driver is paramount to public safety.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on uncovering the circumstances that led to this unfortunate event and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
