A 22-year-old pickup van driver was killed on the spot and another person sustained serious injuries in a three-vehicle collision near Navale Bridge on the Katraj-Dehu Road bypass in Pune on Monday. The accident took place around 8:05 am, causing significant traffic disruption on the busy route.
Details of the Accident
According to the Narhe police, the incident occurred when a container truck moving towards Mumbai hit the pickup van from behind. The impact forced the van to crash into another truck traveling ahead, sandwiching the smaller vehicle between the two heavy transporters. The deceased was identified as Mahadev Uttam Shende (22), while the injured passenger was identified as Sumit Dattu Kamble (22). Both were residents of Kavkute village in Indapur Taluka. Kamble is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital on Sinhagad Road.
Investigation and Response
Senior inspector Asaram Shete of Narhe police station stated, "The duo was traveling from Chennai after picking up a consignment of raw mangoes, which they were supposed to deliver to a trader in Mumbai." The collision led to a temporary halt in Mumbai-bound vehicular movement from Satara, which was stalled for nearly an hour as authorities worked to clear the wreckage. "The consignment of mangoes spilled across the road due to the impact. With the assistance of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials, the fruit and the accident-hit vehicles were moved to the roadside to restore the flow of traffic," inspector Shete added.
Traffic Disruption and Cleanup
The accident caused significant traffic disruption on the busy bypass. Authorities worked diligently to clear the scene and restore normal traffic flow. The spilled mangoes and damaged vehicles were moved aside with the help of PMC officials, allowing traffic to resume after about an hour.
