According to Sub Inspector S Bacchav of Vile Parle police station, the bus on route no 312 was headed towards Seepz, and was waiting at the airport signal opposite Centaur Hotel at around 11.30 pm. The bus driver started the bus although the signal was still red and brought it onto the highway, colliding head-on with a private jeep headed towards Andheri.

The collision sent the jeep and three atorickshaws parked nearby careening some 10 metres ahead. The jeep driver along with eight other persons were also injured and they were all rushed to Cooper Hospital, he said. While the driver, Ramji Prasad Khushwa (35), was declared dead before admission, six patients have been discharged, the police said.

The police hasregistered a case of rash and negligent driving along with causing grevious injury against the driver. The statement of the bus conductor has also been recorded.

A BEST spokesman said as per procedure, Sayyed has already been suspended pending an inquiry and he will be dismissed from service if found guilty. A departmental inquiry will also be conducted, he added.