Speeding tempo hits policewoman inspecting crash site on Western Express Highway

A policewoman who was inspecting a crash site on the Western Express Highway sustained grievous injuries after she was a hit by a speeding tempo on Saturday. Victim poonam Bhoi also suffered 20 per cent burns as hot oil from the vehicle fell on her.

Sub-inspector Bhoi from Vakola police station was on night duty when she received a call about a mishap on the south-bound stretch of the WEH around 3.40 am. A speeding Maruti Swift had turned turtle, she was told.

Bhoi, along with her colleague sub-inspector Rajendra Gaikwad, went to the spot. Due to the mishap, the oil from the car had spilled on to the road and its occupants had fled from there. As the cops were inspecting the car, a newspaper delivery tempo skidded due to the oil and rammed into Bhoi, who got stuck under the vehicle. She was scalded after hot oil from the tempo leaked and fell on her.

"It took Gaikwad and other policemen about 20 minutes to extricate Bhoi. She was then taken to Lilavati Hospital. Burns apart, Bhoi has also sustained multiple fractures to her skull and collarbone," said Vinayak Muley, senior inspector of Vakola police station.

Tempo driver Akhilesh Yadav has been arrested on charges of dangerous driving and causing injuries due to rash and negligent driving. He will be produced in a court on Sunday. Yadav was coming from Mira Road.

Muley added, "We later learnt that Yadav had rammed into two other people in Mira Road the same night. We are trying to ascertain whether a case in connection with those incidents has been registered. He was not drunk at the time of the incident."

Police are also trying to trace the owner of the Swift with the help of the registration number of the vehicle.