A speeding car plunged into the Arabian Sea after breaking the railing of the Coastal Road in Mumbai, police said on Tuesday.
Though the car got submerged in the waters after the accident late Monday night, its driver, the lone occupant of the four-wheeler, was later rescued by the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel deployed at the Coastal Road, an official said.
Police suspect the car driver was under the influence of alcohol, and his blood samples have been collected for tests, he said.
The incident occurred when the car was going towards Worli from Mahalaxmi, he said.
The driver lost control of the wheels and the car fell into the sea after breaking the railing from a height of about 30 feet, the official said.
The MSF personnel noticed the car crash and they risked their lives by jumping into the water to save the vehicle's occupant.
They rescued the car driver after some time and pulled him out of the water with the help of a rope. He suffered minor injuries in the incident and was taken to a hospital for treatment, the official said.
A case was registered at Worli Police Station and a probe was underway into the incident, he said.
On September 22, a speeding high-end Lamborghini car rammed into the divider of the Coastal Road. A video of the incident later surfaced on various social media platforms.
Prima facie, the police suspect that the wet road led to the accident, as there was a downpour in the city, though some retired RTO officials also pointed to the possibility of hydroplaning or aquaplaning.
Mumbai Coastal Road, once hailed as a symbol of modern infrastructure, is fast turning into a safety concern. With vehicles frequently overspeeding and a recent car fire inside the tunnel raising an alarm, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is now exploring new ways to curb accidents.
“The administration is in discussions with the traffic department about placing specific types of speed breakers at crucial points to prevent accidents,” said Mantayya Swamy, Chief Engineer, Coastal Road Project, reported The Free Press Journal.