The accident took place around 6.30 am near Aarey Milk Colony. The dumper (MH04 P 1014), which was heading towards Jogeshwari, skid off the road and hit the two vehicles.

Eyewitnesses said the Maruti Gypsy had apparently developed some snag and its occupants were trying to fix it. ``It all happened in a matter of seconds,'' one eyewitness told Express Newsline. He said he saw the dumper dangerously swerving out of control. ``The road was slushy. That probably caused the truck to skid,'' he added.

Another eyewitness said the force of impact was such that Maruti Gypsy turned upside down before colliding with the car parked just ahead of it.

``It appears the occupants in the Gypsy and the Fiat knew each other and were returning from a holiday,'' he added. The deceased have been identified asKisan Rabari (25), Mehram Pataram (both occupants of the Gypsy) and Dattaram Meghwal. While Kisan and Mehram were declared dead before admission to the Cooper Hospital, Dattaram, who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, died a few hours later.

One of the four injured, identified as Hiralal Bhatt (30) has also been admitted to the ICU. Doctors, however, said he is out of danger now.

The remaining three have suffered minor injuries. One of them, has already been discharged and his name is not on hospital records, authorities said. Of the other two - Arjun Singh and Natraj- the former was admitted to the orthopedic ward of the hospital, but sought discharge and was allowed to go. Natraj, doctors said, is recovering.

The dumper driver, who is yet to be identified, abandoned the truck and fled. Police have not yet been able to ascertain his identity.