A 14-year-old boy allegedly driving a speeding water tanker crashed into a parked SUV and the boundary wall of a residential building on Mahakali Road in Andheri East early on Sunday, prompting Mumbai Police to book the minor, his 20-year-old cousin and the tanker owner. No pedestrians or occupants were injured in the Mumbai water tanker crash.
The collision took place near Malvani Dhaba at about 4.30 am, when the tanker was stopped near a roadside hotel. Police said the minor’s cousin, Durgesh Pathak, had allegedly allowed him to drive the vehicle despite knowing his age. Pathak and the minor have been served notices in connection with the case.
According to the MIDC police, the tanker first hit a golden Volkswagen Taigun belonging to hotelier Chandrakesh alias Nattu Harishankar Gupta, 45. The impact caused extensive damage to the SUV before the tanker went on to strike the compound wall of a residential building.
Police have registered a case against Pathak, the minor and the tanker owner under provisions relating to negligent and rash driving and the Motor Vehicles Act for allowing a minor to operate the vehicle. The tanker has been impounded, while investigators are searching for its owner.
A police officer said the authorities were examining how the boy gained access to the tempo-tanker and were working to establish individual responsibility for the crash. The investigation is also looking at the circumstances in which the tanker was left at the roadside and handed over to the minor.
The incident was captured by local CCTV cameras. Police are reviewing the footage to determine the sequence of events and verify the vehicle’s movements before the collision. Video showing the minor getting out of the truck after the crash also circulated widely on social media.
Police learnt about the incident at around 5.30 am after local residents reported it. An officer said the boy was fortunate to escape injury despite being at the wheel when the tanker crashed. The absence of pedestrian injuries also limited the immediate human toll, although the collision damaged a private vehicle and a residential boundary wall.
The case highlights the enforcement challenge created when commercial vehicles are operated by unauthorised or underage drivers, but the police investigation will determine the precise roles of the minor, his cousin and the tanker owner. The vehicle remains in police custody as investigators continue examining the CCTV footage and tracing its ownership.
