Three individuals were killed and another critically injured when a luxury BMW sedan veered off Mumbai’s recently inaugurated Coastal Road bridge early Sunday morning. The vehicle, reportedly traveling at excessive speeds, crashed through a barrier before plummeting an estimated 50-75 feet onto a construction site below.
Tragic Morning Accident on Coastal Road
The accident occurred around 5:20 AM near Lotus Jetty, opposite Lala Lajpatrai College, as the black BMW was en route from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali. According to authorities from the Coastal Road Control Room and Mumbai Police, the driver lost control, leading to the car striking a divider and boundary wall before its catastrophic fall.
CCTV footage circulating online shows the BMW hurtling at high speed, then smashing through the edge railing and tumbling off the bridge. The impact completely destroyed the vehicle.
Victims Identified in Fatal Crash
All four occupants were swiftly transported to the civic-run Nair Hospital. Tragically, three were pronounced dead upon arrival. Police have identified two of the deceased as Shanay Gajjal, 21, and Dhairya Seth, 17. The third victim, Aditya Jakasniya, is believed to be around 19 years old. The sole survivor, 20-year-old Aditya Oswal, is currently in critical condition within the hospital’s trauma ward.
Investigation Points to Excessive Speed
Mumbai Police have initiated a thorough inquiry into the incident. Preliminary investigations strongly suggest that excessive speed was the primary cause, with reports indicating the car was traveling over 200 kmph. Authorities are meticulously examining CCTV footage, analyzing vehicle data, and collecting witness statements to reconstruct the exact sequence of events leading to the fatal crash.
Safety Concerns on New Infrastructure
The 10.58-kilometer Coastal Road, designed as a high-speed corridor connecting Marine Drive with the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, has now become the site of a significant tragedy. This incident has prompted serious questions regarding the adequacy of safety measures and the enforcement of speed limits on this new and vital piece of Mumbai's infrastructure.