Two friends killed as birthday celebration ends in tragedy after BMW crash
Babushahi Bureau
Mumbai (Maharashtra), June 22, 2026: A horrific high-speed crash on the Mumbai–Delhi Expressway near Badlapur in Maharashtra claimed the lives of two young friends and left another seriously injured in the early hours of Sunday, turning what began as a birthday celebration into a tragedy.
According to police, a BMW carrying three occupants lost control and slammed into a central divider near Badlapur.
The impact was so severe that the vehicle was completely mangled, while its engine was reportedly thrown nearly 30 metres away from the wreckage.
Two occupants died on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Yogesh Negi (26) and Rebecca Jacob (24), both residents of Mumbai’s Bandra area. The third occupant, identified as Angad, who owns the BMW, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
Investigators said the group had travelled to Badlapur to celebrate Yogesh Negi’s birthday. After spending the evening at a local hotel, the three friends left late at night and headed towards the expressway. Police recovered a hotel bill worth ₹9,000 during their investigation.
Authorities are now examining social media accounts linked to the victims after reportedly finding a video uploaded shortly before the crash that appeared to show the vehicle travelling at around 250 kmph. Investigators suspect reckless driving may have played a major role in the accident.
Preliminary findings suggest the driver may have lost control while attempting to manoeuvre around concrete traffic barriers placed along sections of the expressway. The BMW allegedly struck the divider at high speed, became airborne, and ultimately got wedged between sections of the central median.
An eyewitness told police that he had seen the BMW speeding past him twice between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Moments later, he heard a loud explosion-like sound and rushed to the scene, where he found the vehicle completely destroyed.
Angad is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kalyan, while police continue their investigation to determine the exact circumstances leading to the fatal crash.
The incident has once again raised concerns about dangerous speeding and reckless driving on India’s highways, with authorities urging motorists to adhere to speed limits and road safety regulations.