22-vehicle pile-up on Mumbai-Pune e-way kills 1

PUNE: A 58-year-old woman from Dharashiv died and 18 others were injured on Saturday afternoon as a trailer truck rammed 22 vehicles after its brakes failed on Pune-Mumbai Expressway.

Senior inspector Sachin Hire of Khopoli police station said the deceased woman, Anita Ekande from Dharashiv, was travelling with six others in an SUV. "The 18 injured people have been sent to MGM Hospital in Kamothe, Navi Mumbai," he said.


Reason for trailer’s brake failure on e-way will be known after an RTO probe
Hire said the trailer struck nearly 22 vehicles, including cars, in the stretch from Adoshi Tunnel to Food Mall (Pune-Mumbai lane), part of the expressway section between Khalapur and Khandala. "The deceased woman died due to head injuries after the trailer struck their vehicle. The condition of her companions and other injured travellers is being monitored at MJM hospital," said Hire, who registered the FIR in the case.

Hire said the trailer driver, Rajeshkumar Patel (29), was taken into custody. His medical examination, including a breath analyser test, was conducted, but no alcohol was detected.

The driver hails from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh. The reason why the trailer's brakes failed would be known after the RTO inspection of the vehicle.

The collision severely impacted traffic flow on the busy expressway in the afternoon hours on Saturday, said personnel from the Maharashtra Highway Police. "The queue of vehicles stretched up to 6km for some time after the accident," an officer of the state highway police said.

Commuters reported significant delays, with some journeys extended by 45 minutes or more. Gajanan Shelke, a cab driver who witnessed the incident while transporting passengers to the Mumbai airport, said, "I witnessed it firsthand but couldn't stop because my clients had to reach the airport. The accident occurred near Khalapur. The truck rammed several cars and many appeared to be injured. It considerably slowed the traffic and delayed our journey by 45 minutes or more."

The police and emergency services rushed to the spot after the accident to assist the injured and clear the damaged vehicles. The injured were initially taken to Khopoli Nagarpalika Hospital and later referred to MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai. An investigation into the exact cause of the trailer's brakes failure and other circumstances leading to the accident was underway, the police said.

Dr Rahul G Peddawad, the medical superintendent at MGM Hospital, Kamothe, said the health hub received a total of 18 patients - 16 women and two men. "The majority of the patients are aged between their 20s and 50s," he said, adding that a nine-year-old boy was among the injured and was currently stable.

He said, "Only two patients are critical and in the red category. Six are in the yellow category, meaning they have moderate injuries. The other 10 have minor injuries."

Preliminary diagnostics, including X-rays, CT scans and MRIs, have been conducted, and doctors are monitoring the patients' vitals. "We are still awaiting reports, so I cannot comment in detail. But based on initial scans, some have suffered serious fractures in the pelvis, head and spine," Dr Peddawad said.

He said all the injured patients arrived at the hospital between 3.30pm and 6.55pm. Regarding the deceased woman, he said, "She had suffered very severe injuries, but I cannot say more at this stage because the CT, MRI and some other reports are still awaited. Her body has been sent to Panvel Mahapalika Hospital for post-mortem. Patel has been booked for causing death, grievous and minor injuries, among others, through negligent and rash driving under relevant sections of the BNS and Motor Vehicles Act.