Cyclist dies in freak accident involving BJP MLA's car

A 48-year-old cyclist was killed after he was allegedly hit by a speeding SUV and landed on the official vehicle of BJP MLA Pankaj Desai coming from behind in Anand district today, police said.
The mishap occurred near Boriyavi village when the SUV tried to overtake Desai's Innova car from wrong side and hit the cyclist, who was identified as Shivabhai Rathod, from behind, they said.
"The SUV's driver tried to overtake Desai's car from left side and hit Rathod from behind with full speed. Due to the impact, Rathod was flung in air before landing on Desai's car. The SUV driver did not stop and sped away," said Anand District police station sub-inspector UA Dabhi.

He said Desai stopped his car after the mishap and took Rathod to Nadiad civil hospital.
"However, Rathod subsequently died. We have lodged an FIR against the unidentified car driver and started our investigation," the PSI added.
Desai is the sitting MLA from Nadiad and also serves as the BJP's chief whip in Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He was in Anand today to attend a government function and was returning to Nadiad when the incident took place.
Recalling the accident, he told reporters that Rathod had sustained severe head injuries in the accident.
"The man sustained severe head injuries after he landed on my car's windscreen. As he was profusely bleeding, I called '108' ambulance and went to Nadiad with him," the MLA said.