Biker dead, pillion injured in Virar road accident

Siddhesh Pai, a 35-year-old from Virar, was riding without a helmet. Pic/Hanif Patel

A biker died in a road crash while his pillion got critically injured on Sunday night. The deceased has been identified as Siddhesh Pai, a 35-year-old from Virar West. The two, riding a Suzuki Hayabusa, were not wearing helmets, said their friend.

The accident took place on the south-bound lane of Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway near Khanivde in Virar East when the deceased and his friend Aman Pandey were returning from a trip with friends. "Pai was riding the motorcycle and Pandey was riding pillion. It is believed that he hit his motorcycle against a heavy vehicle on the highway at 7.30pm," said police sub-inspector Saiprasad Pawar of Kanher outpost.

He added, "Pai died on the spot while Pandey has been admitted to a hospital in Mira Road. We have registered an accidental death report (ADR). The heavy vehicle, against which the bike dashed, could not be traced yet." Cops have seized the sports bike which was mangled following the crash. Vinay Bagwe, a friend of the deceased, said, "We were in a car while Pai and Pandey were on motorcycle. They were ahead of us."

"When we reached Khanivde, we saw Pai's bike lying on the road and both of them were soaked in blood. We immediately took them to a hospital where Pai was declared dead on arrival," he added. Pandey has suffered injuries including fracture on one leg and dislocated jaw. Police are investigating the matter to locate the heavy vehicle involved in the accident.