Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SP)

Mumbai, Jan 21: Richard D'Souza, who had a flair for motor bike riding and had been noted among biking circles as a commendable rider, unluckily became a victim of a road accident near Thane on Saturday. The accident happened on Ghodbunder Road near Thane in which the 46-year-old resident of Kolshet came under the wheels of a water tanker after the tanker hit his vehicle, as a result of which he directly fell on the path of the tanker's wheels. The accident happened at around 2 pm on Sunday, January 20.

Richard's friend, Jamil Ahmed Ansari, who was riding the pillion of the scooter driven by D'Souza, too fell on the road due to the impact of the collision. He however was lucky not to fall directly under the wheels and hence survived the accident.

The road users immediately stopped the water tanker from escaping, and called the police. An ambulance was also summoned. However, the doctors found on the arrival of the body at the hospital that D'Souza was no more. Kasarvadavali police arrested tanker driver, Pramodkumar Vinodkumar Papde (27), a resident of Thane and charged him of reckless driving. The tanker was also seized by the police. The mortal remains of the deceased were released to the family after postmortem.

Richard's friends said that the deceased was an inspired motor bike rider and that he had undertaken motor bike trips along with his group to distant places like New Delhi, Shimla, Jaipur and Bengaluru. Richard is survived by wife, a son, and a daughter.

The biking community had lost a woman biker last year in a similar incident. Jagruti Hogale (34), member of a women's only bikers club, had been crushed by a truck after her motor bike hit a pothole and she got deposited directly under the truck wheels. This accident had happened at Veti village, about a hundred kilometers away from the city during July 2018.

Richard D’Souza hailed from Moodubelle in Udupi district.