Toddler killed, mother hurt as MG Hector hits tricycle in Borivali West; doctor arrested, gets bail

A two-and-a-half-year-old boy died and his mother was injured after an MG Hector SUV allegedly hit the child's tricycle in Borivali West, Mumbai, on the night of Wednesday, November 4. According to police, the child was playing outside his home with his mother. The accident took place at around 9.45 pm on Chandavarkar Road, near Om Shanti Chowk.

Police arrested Dr Sameer Nitin Parekh, 48, who was driving the SUV and is the accused in the case. He was granted bail after his arrest. After the bail, the magistrate asked police why only bailable sections had been invoked against the accused.

The complaint was filed by the child's mother. She told police she had taken her son out to play. While the two were crossing the road on their way home, she saw a red MG Hector coming towards them. In her statement she alleged that the vehicle was being driven at very high speed and negligently.

A police officer said the SUV was taking a U-turn when it hit the child's tricycle. In the officer's words, "The impact threw the mother to the ground, while the tricycle was dragged towards a Kia car passing by. The SUV then hit the left side of the Kia, and the child was trapped between the two vehicles. We have seized both vehicles for investigation."

Police said the driver picked up the injured child and took him to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali West, where doctors declared the child dead. In court, the accused's lawyer claimed that Parekh did not flee the spot but took the child to hospital himself.

During the court proceedings, Borivali police sought two days' custody of the accused. Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Shivdutt M Patil is reported to have asked the investigating officer why only bailable sections had been invoked while seeking custody. The magistrate is reported to have asked, "Is the police trying to help the accused?" The magistrate also issued a notice to the investigating officer, Sagar Pawar. Parekh was then granted bail without a bond.

The child was the only son of his parents and lived with his grandparents. His father works with a multinational company and his mother is a homemaker. The family was reportedly preparing to celebrate Diwali together. The child was cremated in Dahisar.

Police registered an FIR on November 5 under Sections 281 (rash driving), 106(1) (causing death by negligence) and 125(b) (act endangering life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which deals with dangerous driving, has also been invoked. Further investigation is under way.