Kurla BEST Bus Mishap: Driver’s Alcohol Test Negative; Police Await Further Reports

The forensic report of BEST bus driver Sanjay More (54), who was involved in the Kurla accident on December 9, has come back negative, according to police.

“We received Sanjay More’s forensic report on Saturday, and it is negative. No alcohol was found in his system,” Ganesh Gawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 5, said.

The police received the report from the Kalina Forensic Laboratory.

More, a BEST bus driver, mowed down seven people and injured 42 others outside Kurla Railway Station (West) on Monday. This was the first time he was operating an electric vehicle.

That same morning, the company Evey Trans, which had wet-leased the bus to BEST Undertaking, instructed More to complete three rounds in the electric vehicle before he was assigned to operate the bus on Route No 332, from Kurla Railway Station (West) to Agarkar Chowk, Andheri Station (East).

According to the police, More had 30 years of experience driving diesel buses. However, this was his first time handling an electric vehicle. More told the police that he lost control of the bus when it sped uncontrollably. The bus was travelling at 60 kilometres per hour at the time of the crash on a highly congested road filled with illegal hawkers and autorickshaws.

The police are awaiting the report from the Road Transport Organisation, which has been tasked with determining whether the vehicle had any defects. Based on the findings, further action will be taken. The police also noted that it was the responsibility of the BEST administration to ensure that drivers of wet-leased buses were properly trained.