Teen driver mows down 4-year-old boy in Mumbai

In a heart-wrenching incident, a four-year-old boy lost his life after being hit by a speeding car in Mumbai’s Wadala area. The accident occurred when the child was playing on the road near the Wadala depot on December 21. The driver, identified as 19-year-old Bhushan Gole, was reversing a Hyundai Creta when the tragedy took place.

Police officials confirmed that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol and did not attempt to flee the scene. Gole was arrested under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), and further investigations are underway.

The boy’s family, who live on a footpath in the area, is grappling with the loss. The father, a laborer, was reportedly nearby when the accident occurred. This devastating incident highlights the vulnerability of families living in precarious conditions along busy city roads.

This tragedy is the second major road accident in Mumbai this month. Earlier, on December 9, a driver lost control of a civic-run electric bus in Kurla, leading to a crash that killed seven people, injured 42 others, and damaged over 20 vehicles. The Kurla incident, captured on CCTV, sparked significant concerns about road safety in the city.

Maharashtra’s road safety record remains alarming. Between 2018 and 2022, the state recorded 66,370 road accident deaths, placing it third after Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in terms of fatal accidents. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recently highlighted that road accidents claim 1,78,000 lives annually across India, with 60% of victims aged between 18 and 34 years.

The loss of the four-year-old boy has reignited debates about stricter regulations and enforcement to ensure road safety in densely populated urban areas. The need for immediate action is critical to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.