Mumbai tech firm CEO hit by car while jogging; dies
In a shocking incident, the chief executive officer (CEO) of a technology company, identified as Rajalakshmi Vijay, died after being hit by a speeding car in Mumbai early on Sunday morning. According to The Times of India, the top boss of Altruist Technologies was out on a jog at Mumbai's Worli Sea Face when the vehicle rammed into her.
Details on Sunday's Worli road accident
As per the police, the road accident took place near Mumbai's Worli Milk Dairy at around 6:30 am on Sunday when a Tata Nexon car hit Vijay from behind at a very high speed. The victim, a resident of the Dadar Matunga area, was immediately rushed to the nearby MA Podar Hospital, where she was reportedly declared dead by the doctors.
Visuals from the accident site
Here's what Worli Police said on incident
As per eyewitnesses, the crash's impact was so powerful that the victim was thrown several feet into the air. "A woman died after she was hit by a speeding car in Mumbai's Worli area. The driver of the car also got injured and has been detained. Further investigation into the matter is underway," ANI quoted the Worli Police as saying.
Identity of accused driver revealed
After the accident, the offending car's driver was nabbed by local residents who gathered at the crash site and called the police. The driver was identified as 23-year-old Sumer Merchant, who, according to the cops, is a Tardeo resident and was on his way to his Dadar office when he lost control of his vehicle.
Accused driver arrested, and charged under multiple IPC Sections
Following the incident, the police arrested Merchant for causing Vijay's death due to negligent and rash driving and other relevant Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Akbar Pathan said, "He is taken to Worli Police Station and legal action is being taken against him. His medical reports will confirm whether he was drunk or not."
Victim was frequent runner, completed 2023 Tata Mumbai Marathon
Reportedly, Vijay was part of a jogger group from Mumbai's Shivaji Park and was a frequent runner, too. About a month ago, she shared a long LinkedIn post about completing the 2023 Tata Mumbai Marathon. "I have added life to my days, I have added friends to my life. I have added the booster shot to my work," she wrote.
Mumbai saw drop in road accidents
While Vijay's passing is unfortunate, Mumbai apparently witnessed a 19% drop in road accidents over the last year. According to the 2022-23 Maharashtra Economic Survey, Mumbai reported 1,773 road accidents, leading to 272 deaths and 1,620 injuries. Comparatively, in 2021-22, the financial capital of the country had reported 2,214 road accidents, including 1,944 injuries and 387 deaths.
