INDIA: Mercedes-Benz India said it is cooperating with authorities investigating the car accident that led to the death of former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry.
“As a responsible brand that respects customer privacy, our team is working with the authorities where possible and will provide any clarification directly to them if necessary,” the automaker said in a statement.
“We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Cyrus Mistry and Jehangir Pandole in an unfortunate road accident. At the same time, we are happy to learn that Anahita Pandole and Darius Pandole are recovering. We wish them a speedy recovery,” it noted.
Mistry, 54, and his friend Jahangir Pandole were killed on Sunday afternoon when their Mercedes GLC 220d 4MATIC crashed into a road divider in Maharashtra. The vehicle was a 2017 GLC 220d 4MATIC, which is equipped with a total of seven airbags. The latest version of the all-wheel drive model comes with a price tag of over ₹68,000.
It has a “pre-safe system” where the front seat belts can be electrically pre-tensioned in dangerous situations. According to the Mercedes-Benz India website, the GLC’s Pre-Restraint System reduces the forward motion of occupants during braking or skidding in an impending accident.
Today, the company collected the vehicle data, which will be decrypted for further analysis.
According to a preliminary investigation, the deceased was not wearing a seat belt, police said the accident was caused by speeding and an “error in judgment” by the driver.
Other details such as tire pressure and brake fluid level will also be investigated to ascertain the cause of the accident, Konkan Inspector General of Police Sanjay Mohite told PTI.