Pune Woman Drives 2km with Cab Driver on Car Bonnet in Shocking Incident
A shocking road incident in Pune has led to the arrest of a 45-year-old woman after she drove for approximately 2 kilometers with a cab driver clinging to the bonnet of her car. The woman, a resident of Baner who works for an NGO, was apprehended by police on Tuesday following the circulation of video clips on social media that captured the harrowing event.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Dangerous Episode
The incident unfolded on the afternoon of January 17 around 3 pm. According to senior inspector Ravindra Kadam from the Laxminagar police station, the woman was driving her car from Yerawada to Shivajinagar when her vehicle first collided with a motorcycle from behind on Sangamwadi Road. This initial impact caused the motorcycle rider, along with his wife and child, to fall onto the road, sustaining minor injuries.
At this moment, cab driver Ram Laxman Rathod (34) was driving behind the woman's car. In an attempt to maneuver past the fallen couple, the woman put her vehicle into reverse gear, inadvertently hitting Rathod's cab. Rathod then began chasing her car to bring her to a stop.
The Terrifying Ordeal on the Bonnet
Rathod managed to intercept and slow down the woman's vehicle. After parking his cab by the roadside, he stood in front of her car to prevent her from fleeing. However, the woman suddenly accelerated, forcing Rathod to jump onto the bonnet to avoid being run over.
Despite Rathod's pleas to stop, the woman drove ahead at a speed of 50-60 kmph for nearly 2 kilometers along the Sangamwadi-Shahdawal Dargah Road. This reckless act endangered not only Rathod's life but also posed a significant risk to other road users.
Intervention and Aftermath
Alert motorcycle riders who witnessed the scene began chasing the speeding car and recorded videos of the incident. Through persistent shouting and signaling, they eventually persuaded the woman to halt her vehicle, causing Rathod to fall from the bonnet. He was promptly taken to a hospital in Shivajinagar for treatment, where he was diagnosed with a fractured hand.
Interestingly, Rathod did not report the incident to the police initially. It was only after the video clips went viral on social media platforms that authorities became aware of the matter on Monday. A police team swiftly traced Rathod, recorded his statement, and based on the car's registration number visible in the videos, tracked down the woman.
Legal Actions and Court Proceedings
The woman was arrested on charges of attempt to commit culpable homicide and rash and negligent driving. She was produced before a city court, which granted her bail. Meanwhile, Rathod received medical care for his injury. The police emphasized that the incident highlights the severe consequences of negligent driving and the role of social media in bringing such cases to light.
This alarming episode serves as a stark reminder of road safety responsibilities and the importance of accountability in traffic incidents.
