A tragic road accident on the Pune-Mumbai highway claimed the life of a 10-year-old girl and left her parents critically injured. The incident occurred on May 19 when the family was returning home to Badlapur after visiting the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati temple in Pune.
Accident Details
The family of three, identified as Jaywant Gawade, his wife Jayashri, and their daughter Swara Jaywant Gawade, were on a scooter. As they climbed the Bopdev Maharaj bridge in Ravet, an SUV driver reversed his vehicle and struck them. The impact threw all three off the scooter.
Swara, who was seated in front of her father, suffered severe chest and head injuries. She was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. Her father sustained critical head injuries, while her mother suffered head injuries and a fractured left leg.
Police Investigation
The Ravet police registered a case of death by negligence against the 45-year-old SUV driver from Washi in Raigad district. A complaint was lodged by the girl's uncle on Saturday.
Police Sub-Inspector Ravindra Sonawane explained that the driver was heading towards the expressway but mistakenly stopped on the bridge and reversed to take the service road. The driver was unaware that the bridge connects directly to the expressway. Intense sun rays may have obstructed the scooter rider's view, preventing him from seeing the reversing vehicle.
The accident occurred around 4:45 pm. The Gawade family was returning after offering prayers at the Dagdusheth temple. Jaywant Gawade works for a private company in Thane district.
