A four-year-old boy was killed after getting hit by a speeding car in Mumbai, which was being driven by a 19-year-old man, said police officials on Sunday.
The incident occurred near the Ambedkar College in the Wadala area, said the police, adding that the family of the victim lives on the footpath and his father is a labourer.
The accused, identified as Bhushan Gole, was reversing his Hyundai Creta when the incident took place, said police. The driver has been arrested in relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and further investigation is underway.
“Prima facie, the driver was not under the influence of alcohol," a police official told news agency PTI. Sandeep Gole, who was driving the Hyundai Creta, is a resident of Vile Parle.
The incident comes days after another fatal road accident in Mumbai. A driver of an electric bus, operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), lost control of the vehicle and rammed into pedestrians, killing at least seven people and injuring 40 others.
More than 20 vehicles were also damaged during the accident, which was captured on CCTV and heightened concerns about road safety in the city.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways last week said Maharashtra was among the states that have witnessed the highest number of road accidents in the last five years.
The report, based on data received from various states and Union Territories, revealed that more than 7 lakh people have died across India in road accidents in the 2018-2022 period.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of road accident deaths (1,08,882), followed by Tamil Nadu (84,316) and Maharashtra (66,370).