17 February,2011 06:40 AM IST | | Ketan Ranga
He slammed the accelerator instead of the brake upon seeing a man in his way; in another incident, BEST driver mowed down a biker who tried to overtake bus
In two unrelated mishaps last night, two men lost their lives in different parts of the city owing to rash driving.u00a0
Around 10 pm, 40-year-old Devang Shah was returning home with his wife. The couple was in Jagmagia housing society in Malad and was walking up to the building that houses their flat.
Bhavesh Gala was arrested after he ran over and killed 40-year-old Devang Shah while parking his car in Malad
Suddenly, a Maruti 800 entered the building, abruptly came up on them, and instead of hitting the brakes, the driver stepped on the gas.
The car raced toward the couple. Seeing the oncoming vehicle, Shah pushed his wife out of the way, but the car dragged him along and ran him over, injuring his head and killing him on the spot.
Following that, residents of the building caught hold of the car's driver who was identified as Bhavesh Gala (39).
He told them that he had come to deliver the car to Nilesh Nagra, a resident of the same building who had bought it.
In his defence, Gala said, "They came in front of my car when I entered the compound."
Police Sub-Inspector Vinod Patil of Malad police station said, "The husband and wife, both working in share market, were on their way to their building. Gala who had come to deliver the car drove inside the compound.
He saw the two walking and instead of applying the brakes, he accelerated the car. Shah pushed his wife away, but could not save himself. The car dragged him along for some distance and killed him."
Around 1 am, police registered the FIR against the accused for rash driving and negligence and arrested him.
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The body of the victim was taken to Bhagwati Hospital. He is survived by his wife and parents who stay in south Mumbai.
BEST kills biker
In a second incident, 21-year-old Amay Madgoaonkar was riding his bike in Worli, when he tried to overtake a BEST bus. In trying to pull off the maneuver, he collided with the side of the bus, and died.
About him, cops said that he tried to overtake the bus. As there was not enough space, the bus dashed his bike from the side. The victim was not wearing a helmet or carrying his licence.
Inquiries were going on as the body was taken to Podar Hospital. Until 2.15 am late in the night, police had not filed an FIR against the driver. An official said that investigation was going on.
