MUMBAI: Two men riding a motorcycle were killed in the early hours of Sunday after a truck ran over them on the Western Express Highway near Dahisar East. The truck driver fled the scene but was traced to a village in Gujarat and arrested within 24 hours, police said.
The accident occurred around 1.40 am near the Dahisar metro station on the northbound stretch of the highway. The victims, Zahir Amlani and his friend Irshad Hussain, were travelling towards Mira Road, with Amlani riding the bike and Hussain seated as the pillion.
Both men were rushed to hospital after the crash but had sustained severe head injuries and succumbed during treatment.
An FIR was registered for rash and negligent driving. Police said the driver, identified as Salman Khan, claimed during questioning that he had heard a sound when the truck made contact with the motorcycle but was unaware that the collision had resulted in fatalities.
Investigators faced initial hurdles as the nearest CCTV camera was located about 100 metres away and the footage was unclear. Police then analysed visuals from cameras installed at the Dahisar check naka and matched clips to identify two suspect vehicles, one of which was confirmed to be involved in the crash.
By the time officers zeroed in on the truck, it had already crossed into Gujarat. A police team tracked it down and found bloodstains on the tyres, confirming its role in the incident.
In her statement, Amlani’s mother, Nazneen, told police that her son was expected to return home from work by around 9 pm on Saturday. When he did not arrive, she called him at about 11 pm. He answered and said he was on his way back with Hussain. Amlani worked with a private firm in Bangur Nagar, Goregaon West.
