Speeding, possibly due to driving trailer truck in neutral, caused Navale Bridge accident: Pune RTO

Pune: The Regional Transport Office (RTO), Pune, on Thursday said the trailer truck involved in Nov 13 accident on Navale Bridge was overspeeding, possibly because it was running in neutral.

The RTO officials said the accident was not an outcome of drunk driving. A source said these were the findings in the final report of the RTO probe and it would be submitted to police soon.

The trailer truck had rammed multiple vehicles on the bridge. Eight people were killed in the accident a week ago. Additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil had earlier said the speed of the trailer truck was close to 80km per hour.


An official of the RTO, requesting anonymity, said, "It appears that the driver was driving the trailer truck in neutral gear, resulting in an increase in the speed of the vehicle. He was then unable to control the vehicle."

He said, "During our investigation, we did not find any evidence that the brakes of the vehicle failed. As the trailer truck hit the car and then the truck, its speed was very high. When the vehicle left the Khed Shivapur toll plaza, its speed was normal. The vehicle's speed increased as it came to the slope. Some more observations are being made, thereafter the final report would be submitted to the police."

As many as 13 people were injured as the trailer truck ploughed through 13 vehicles last week on the Bhumkar Bridge-Navale Bridge stretch on the busy Pune-Bengaluru highway. It dragged a car for several metres and halted after crashing into another truck, resulting in all three vehicles catching fire.

The Pune RTO, Archana Gaikwad, told TOI they would be increasing surveillance and checks on the risky stretch from Friday. "A team has been there on the stretch. Now, another team has been constituted. Each of these teams consists of five officers. On Friday, we will be going to the stretch as well as the toll plaza for a survey."

Gaikwad said, "One of the teams will be static on the stretch beyond the toll plaza, towards Satara, because we cannot stop vehicles on the busy Bhumkar Bridge-Navale Bridge stretch. It will stop vehicles for checking. Besides checking documents, we will use breathalysers to detect cases of drunk driving," the officer said.

"The other team will be on a continuous move, making their presence felt to all vehicles. We believe that this will act as a deterrent to those trying to break rules. Many heavy vehicles have blinking lights, which distract other drivers. We will curb this too," the Pune RTO said.

An awareness drive would also be initiated in which drivers would be informed about the slope and the dangers so that they are careful.

Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) authorities said all buses operating on Katraj-Dehu Road bypass should strictly adhere to the speed limit of 30km per hour. Also, the bus stop near the Navale Bridge would be shifted. Two officials would be deployed at the spot to inform the commuters. Information boards would also be set up.

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