Airbag Malfunction Kills Car Dealer Vehicle Inspection

A 25-year-old car dealer died after the steering wheel airbag of a parked Honda car allegedly deployed unexpectedly, and its plastic casing struck him in the neck during a routine inspection in Mira Road on Wednesday afternoon. The Kashimira police have registered an accidental death report and launched an investigation into the incident.

The deceased, identified as Mohit Soni, a resident of Tiara Hills in Mira Road (East), was inspecting the Honda car (registration number MH01 AL 6301), which was parked on the roadside, when the incident occurred.

According to the police, a passerby noticed Soni sitting inside the vehicle with his T-shirt soaked in blood and alerted residents, who informed the police. A team from the Kashimira police station rushed to the spot, pulled him out of the vehicle, and took him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead before admission.

Assistant Police Inspector S.S. Kashid said Soni suffered a deep cut on the right side of his neck after the steering wheel airbag allegedly deployed suddenly, and the plastic cover flew off with force, striking him. “He appears to have lost a large amount of blood and may have become unconscious immediately. As there was no one around at the time, the bleeding proved fatal,” Kashid said.

Senior Police Inspector Rajendra Kamble said preliminary inspection found no signs of collision or external damage to the vehicle. “The car was stationary. There was no impact from outside. The steering wheel airbag appears to have deployed on its own, and the plastic casing hit the victim’s neck, causing a fatal injury,” he said.

A forensic team visited the spot and collected blood samples and other evidence from inside the vehicle. Police have also informed the Regional Transport Office (RTO), which is examining the vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems to ascertain what triggered the airbag deployment.

Police said they will also seek a technical report from the vehicle manufacturer. “We are awaiting the forensic and technical reports to establish the exact sequence of events and determine whether a mechanical or electrical defect caused the airbag to deploy,” an investigating officer said.

Investigators said the Honda car is around 15 years old but reportedly has a valid fitness certificate.