Mumbai: Man, learning to drive, mows down 3-year-old

A cleaner, allegedly learning to drive a mini bus, ran over and killed a three-year-old in Bhayandar on Sunday morning.

The cleaner and driver of the bus have been arrested

While the vehicle has been impounded, both the driver, identified as Dhanujeet Biswas, and the cleaner, Sujeet Biswas, have been arrested and booked under sections 279 (rash driving) and 304 (a) (causing death by negligence) of the IPC and under the relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.

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Policemen at the accident site. Pics/Azim Tamboli

According to the police, the incident was reported from Radhaswami Satsang Road in Bhayandar (west) at 10 am. The driver of the speeding private mini bus (MH-43-H3683) lost control over the vehicle and rammed into a roadside hut, after jumping over a divider.

Akshita Rajendra Singh died in the accident

The deceased, identified as Akshita Rajendra Singh, (3), was playing outside her hut, when she was mowed down by the bus. Dhanujeet and Sujeet tried to flee the spot, but were caught by locals and handed over to the Bhayandar police after a sound thrashing.

"It appears that with Dhanujeet as his instructor, Sujeet was learning to drive and was behind the wheel, when he lost control over the vehicle. The duo will be produced in court on Monday," said an investigating officer.

"Investigations were on to ascertain if Sujeet had a driving licence or even a learner's one," a police official said. Akshita was a Junior KG student at the nearby Good Shepherd School.

Accident-prone zone
A favourite destination of aspiring drivers with unqualified instructors, the stretch of road where the incident occurred, has turned into an accident-prone zone. A toddler was recently mowed down by a tempo a couple of metres away from Sunday's tragic mishap site.