Driver blames sudden jump in e-bus, says it was in 'run mode'

BHANDUP TRAGEDY | The driver has been working at BEST since 2008 and is a permanent employee; he had started driving e-buses only a few months ago.

- Avadhut Kharade

The driver, Santosh Ramesh Sawant, 52, of the BEST wetlease electric AC bus involved in the fatal accident near Bhandup West railway station has claimed during police interrogation that the bus was already in a running condition when he sat in the driver's seat and that it suddenly jumped forward as soon as he released the handbrake, leading to the fatal crash.

Sawant has been working as a BEST driver since 2008 and is a permanent employee. He had started driving electric buses only a few months ago.

On the day of the incident, he had reported for night duty and was assigned the route 606 bus. He told the police that as soon as he released the handbrake, the bus surged forward uncontrollably.