Fatal Accident on Navi Mumbai’s Palm Beach Road Leaves One Dead, Two Injured
Navi Mumbai, 11th November 2024: A fatal accident occurred early Thursday morning on Navi Mumbai’s Palm Beach Road when a drunk driver rear-ended a hatchback at high speed, killing a 40-year-old man and injuring his wife and young daughter. The incident took place near the Sarsole Jetty signal around 3:15 am as the family was returning from Belapur.
The impact caused the car to roll multiple times, leaving the right side severely damaged. Manish Pednekar, the driver, was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife Sneha (34) sustained minor injuries, and their four-year-old daughter is in critical condition in the ICU. The SUV involved in the crash, driven by 26-year-old Omkar More from Sanpada, veered off the road and came to a stop on its side.
More fled the scene, but police found broken beer bottles in the abandoned vehicle, leading them to suspect that he was intoxicated at the time. Within three hours, More was arrested, and a medical test confirmed his alcohol consumption. Senior Inspector Brahmanand Naikwadi of Nerul police stated that More has been charged under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Motor Vehicle Act for rash driving, which resulted in a fatality. He was remanded to police custody.
The crash occurred near the Sarsole Jetty traffic signal as the family was returning home. More suffered minor injuries from the airbags deploying, while Pednekar was declared dead upon arrival at NMMC hospital. Sneha was treated at Dr DY Patil Hospital and is out of danger, while their daughter, Ananya, is undergoing intensive treatment at Apollo Hospital in Belapur.
An anonymous witness suggested that many youngsters drive after drinking, especially near pubs and discotheques in Belapur, and urged authorities to ensure that patrons either avoid driving or use alternative transportation after consuming alcohol.
