TRAFFIC COP RUN OVER BY DRUNK BUS DRIVER IN THANE; 3 HURT

MUMBAI: A 44- year- old traffic constable died in an accident caused by a drunk bus driver at Kasarwadavli in Thane on Friday night. The police said the bus driver was speeding, he hit and dragged a tempo and crashed into a divider before finally coming to a halt.

The constable, Chandrakant Wamanrao Salunkhe, standing behind the tempo and was mowed down, the police said.

Salunkhe had asked for the night shift as his child was giving the SSC exams. His wife has decided to donate his eyes. His body has been taken to Ahmednagar, where the final rites will be done,” said an officer, requesting anonymity.

The accused, Gajanan Shejul, 56, was arrested soon after and remanded in police custody till March 18, after officers found the Thane Municipal Transportation employee had consumed alcohol beyond the permissible level. Just before the accident, 44 passengers on the bus had realised he was drunk and got off after making him stop the vehicle.

Around 11pm on Friday, Shejul got down from a bus at Kashimira bus stand and consumed alcohol. He took the wheel to take his vehicle to Thane, the police said.

“The bus was carrying 44 passengers, who realised near Kashimira the driver was not in a condition to drive. They asked for their money, made the driver stop the bus and got down along with the conductor. The driver was asked to parked the vehicle, but he sped off,” said another officer.

>> CONTINUED ON P9