Delivery boy killed in hit-and-run on Western Express Highway in Mumbai

Mumbai: An unknown auto-rickshaw driver allegedly hit a delivery boy's motorcycle in a hit-and-run case early on Thursday, after which a truck ran over him on the Western Express Highway in Santacruz East, police said.The victim, Akhilesh Chaudhary (Kamath) (35), was employed with an online food delivery app platform and was on his way to deliver a food parcel when the incident occurred at 1.30am near New Agripada Bus Stop, Vakola police said.Vakola police registered a case against unknown vehicle persons. Police were yet to make an arrest.Police said they learnt details of the incident from an eyewitness. "Ashutosh Valanju, a passerby, who witnessed the incident said it was an rickshaw hit Chaudhary's bike. He was thrown off and a truck following ran over him. He rushed him to the VN Desai Hospital where he was declared before admission. The police team have sought CCTV footage to track down the accused vehicles involved in the hit and run case lead to Chaudhary's death," said a police officer of the Vakola police station.In the complaint, Palghar resident Chaudhary's elder Nilambar (44) said: "At 1.30am, while I was at home, my friend Navin Kamat from my village called and informed me that Akhilesh had an accident and was admitted to VN Desai Hospital. I immediately left home and reached hospital at 3.30am where my nephew Arun Chaudhary and Navin Kamat were present. Arun told me that while Akhilesh was going for a food parcel delivery an unknown rickshaw hit him near New Agripada Bus Stop, Western Express Highway, Santacruz East, Mumbai, causing him to fall on the road, and then a truck coming from behind ran over him."Police said both the rickshaw driver and the truck driver left without stopping. Valanju, who witnessed the incident, brought him to the hospital for treatment and called the deceased's family members to narrate the incident, police said.