Three Family Members Killed in Horrific Pune-Nashik Highway Crash
In a devastating late-night accident, three members of a family were killed and two others sustained serious injuries when their car jumped the median on the Pune-Nashik highway and crashed into an oncoming private bus. The tragic incident occurred near Manchar around 11:15 PM on Sunday, sending shockwaves through the local community.
Victims Identified as Architect Couple and Elderly Mother
The Pune Rural police have identified the deceased as Mallikarjun Ambegave (46), his wife Aarati Ambegave (43), and Aarati's mother Lata Tuplondhe (63). All three victims were residents of Walhekarwadi in Chinchwad. Both Mallikarjun and Aarati were practicing architects who also ran a construction business.
The injured family members include their son Prem (20), who is currently pursuing an architecture degree, and daughter Mrunal (16), who recently completed her Class X board examinations. Both siblings are receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital following the horrific crash.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Fatal Collision
According to Inspector Shrikant Kankal of the Manchar police, the Ambegave family was returning home to Pune after attending a function in Nashik. As they approached Eklahare village around 11:15 PM, their sedan was climbing the gradient of a bridge on the highway when Mallikarjun Ambegave reportedly lost control of the steering wheel.
"The car first hit the median and went over it," Inspector Kankal explained. "The vehicle then crashed into a private bus that was traveling toward Dhule in the Nashik-bound lane of the highway."
Witnesses described a harrowing scene where the bus dragged the mangled car for several meters before coming to a complete stop. The impact was so severe that Mallikarjun, Aarati, and Lata were killed instantly at the scene of the accident.
Emergency Response and Traffic Disruption
Emergency responders faced significant challenges in their rescue efforts. "We first sent the two injured people to the hospital," a witness recounted. "It was extremely difficult to remove the bodies from the completely mangled remains of the vehicle."
The collision caused substantial traffic congestion on the busy highway, prompting police to quickly remove the wrecked vehicle to restore normal traffic flow. Inspector Kankal confirmed that the bus driver has filed a formal complaint regarding the incident, which is now under investigation by local authorities.
Community Mourns Loss of Prominent Family
The tragedy has left the local architectural and business communities in mourning. Mallikarjun Ambegave was not only a respected architect but also an active participant in the construction industry. His children represent the next generation of the family, with Prem following in his parents' architectural footsteps and Mrunal just beginning her academic journey.
This fatal accident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers present on India's highways, particularly during nighttime travel. The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the exact circumstances that led to this heartbreaking loss of life on the Pune-Nashik corridor.
