According to Senior Police Inspector Subhash Pawar of the Vikhroli police station, the two men—Sewree residents Kishor Khandagiri, a mathadi worker, and Dinesh Kewat (27)—were on their way from Thane to Sewree on a red Bajaj Pulsar. Whey they reached the Godrej junction traffic signal on the Eastern Express Highway, the light had turned yellow, the police said.

“Instead of slowing down, the rider (Kishor), who was not wearing a helmet, jumped the signal and tried to speed away. But a constable posted there tried to stop them and Kishor lost control over the bike and they met with an accident. We have filed a case of rash and negligent driving against the rider,” said Pawar.

Kewat, who was riding pillion and suffered bruises and injuries to his leg, said: “We crossed the signal as the light had turned yellow but a constable asked us to stop. Kishor, however, tried to carry on. The constable hit Kishor on his left hand to stop him and he lost control over the bike and it skidded.”

Pawar, however, said that Kishor sped away even though the constable tried to stop him. He, however, looked back to see whether they were being chased by the police and lost control over the bike, Pawar said.

Kewat said there were five traffic constables at the site but none came forward to help them even though they kept lying at the site for 15 minutes. Pawar, however, said that it was the constable who rushed them to hospital after the accident.

The victims were taken to Rajawadi Hospital in a towing van and the police vehicle was not there at the time of the accident, according to police. The duo was later taken to Sion hospital due to lack of trauma facilities at Rajawadi Hospital.

“The victims were brought in at around 1.30 pm. Kishor was in a coma at the time of admission and had suffered injury to his right eye. Kewat received 17 stitches on his left leg and was treated for bruises,” said Dr S Merchant, acting dean of Sion hospital.