Law student on phone fails to see speeding car, run over

A third-year student of Government Law College, Churchgate, was mowed down by a car driven by a 19-year-old youth at Marine Drive on Thursday night.

Inspector Rajendra Patil of the Marine Drive police station said, “Manav Shah, 19, was arrested on charges of causing death due to rash and negligent driving.” He was produced in court and released on a bail bond of Rs7,000 on Friday.

Eyewitnesses said Nevidita Nathani, 23, was talking on her mobile phone to her friend while crossing the road and did not see the car speeding towards her. The accident took place near Matru Chhaya building.

Passersby who witnessed the accident took Nathani to Bombay hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.
Shah apparently lost control of the vehicle after he saw Nathani stepping down from the divider. There was no signal there and hence the driver of the car would in no way have been able to control the vehicle, the police said.

Nathani hails from Kolkata and was staying with a couple at Marine Drive.

Shah is a resident of Malabar Hill and a student of a college in South Mumbai. He was headed towards NCPA to meet friends when the incident took place.