AHMEDABAD: A speeding bus hit a couple on a bike on Sunday and crushed the young man, who was riding the bike, to death. His wife sustained injuries in her head and arm.

According to police officials of Gaekwad Haveli, the incident took place when the victim, Parit Patel, 27, a resident of Maninagar, was crossing the Jamalpur overbridge on Sunday afternoon with his wife Asha riding pillion.

The couple was unaware that a speeding bus was coming from behind. Before Parit could steer his vehicle out of its way, the bus, which was headed towards Maninagar, hit the bike throwing both Parit and Asha on the road.

“Parit fell on the road whereas Asha fell near the footpath. Within a matter of seconds, situation turned worse as the bus crushed Parit’s forehead with its front wheels. We have nabbed the bus driver and have booked him for rash driving,” said NG Balat, sub-inspector of Haveli police station.

Parit’s father Navinchandra has filed a complaint against the driver. The couple was then sent to LG Hospital where Asha was released late in the evening, said police officials.

In the last four months, between July 29 to November 18, these buses have killed seven, including Sunday’s victim.

AMTS officials blame the people, who get contracts for running various sections of the city bus service, while on the other hand, the contractors blame the drivers.

“Many of the mini buses employed by the AMTS are not equipped with powerful brakes. Drivers drive the buses at a speed of 40 kmph even in crowded places. They and the contractors should be punished severely and the punishment should be exemplary,” stated Devang Shah, resident of Satellite, whose brother Sumeet sustained injuries in a mishap in October.

Sumeet Shah, 26, was taking a turn near SG Highway, when he was hit by a bus. He is among the lucky few to have come out alive, after such a close encounter with AMTS bus.

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