Tragic Collision in Mumbai: Engineering Student’s SUV Crash Claims Two Lives

Mumbai: A horrific accident claimed two lives on Saturday afternoon when Priyanshu Vandre, a 21-year-old engineering student, lost control of his SUV and smashed into a taxi on Elphinstone Bridge in Dadar West.The head-on collision, which occurred at 1:35 p.m. opposite the International Centre, killed 65-year-old cab driver Shankaraya Goliwada and 55-year-old passenger Rekha Jamoria, a flower seller. Vandre, a final-year student living at Tata Power Colony in Matunga, sustained minor injuries and was detained by police at the scene, where authorities suspect his high speed may have triggered the crash.

The victims were identified as Goliwada, a Goregaon East resident driving from Dadar to Parel, and Jamoria, who had been selling flowers in Dadar before heading home in the taxi. Both were rushed to Sion Hospital but were declared dead on arrival, with their bodies held for post-mortem examination, according to the source. A senior Dadar police officer confirmed Vandre was alone in the SUV and is now in custody for questioning, while blood samples have been taken to check for alcohol involvement—results are still awaited.

Traffic on the busy bridge slowed as police and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) personnel stepped in to manage the aftermath of the wreck. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has been called to examine the SUV for mechanical faults, and Vandre, whose father is a retired private company executive, could face a First Information Report (FIR) as the investigation unfolds. The Times of India noted that this tragic incident has raised fresh concerns about road safety in one of Mumbai’s bustling hubs.