Ponda: Amotorcycle pilot was crushed to death by a speeding heavy-duty crane truck near Shapur KTC bus stand, Ponda, around 9.30am on Tuesday. He was awaiting passengers.
Police have arrested the
crane operator
, Ranjeet Nagendra Prasad Kumar, 20.
The deceased, identified as Prakash Chodankar, 58, was the president of Ponda Motorcycle Taxi Association.
Police said that Kumar was driving in a rash and negligent manner and dashed against the parked motorcycle.
The pilot and his motorcycle were dragged for around 7.5m by the heavy-duty vehicle, police further said.
Eyewitnesses
said that Kumar’s vehicle was coming at speed from Farmagudi. Chodankar was reading a newspaper when he was hit.
Locals said the National Highways Authority of India should have deputed at least a junior engineer at the worksite nearby to monitor vehicle movements.
An underpass is being constructed there and many heavy-duty vehicles ferry materials to the site.
Govt, a local said, has licensed motorcycle pilots to use a spot near the bus stand as a pick-up point, which is not barricaded.
A case of rash and negligent driving has been registered at the Ponda police station.
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