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NAVI MUMBAI: The stand-by driver of a private bus was killed and 11 passengers injured after a speeding truck lost control on the Mumbai-Pune expressway and collided head-on with the bus on Saturday around 3am.
The mishap occurred between Ashte and Bhatan villages, about 3km from Bhatan tunnel on the Mumbai carriageway of the expressway. The accident spot is at a distance of 11km from Kalamboli, the starting point of the expressway.The bus carrying 40 people was travelling from Aatpadi in Sangli district to Kurla, while the truck was travelling towards Pune.
The truck crashed on the road divider and collided head-on with the bus. This led to a pile-up, as a tempo, and Mahindra jeep travelling behind the bus crashed one after the other. The tempo was loaded with vegetables, which were to be delivered at the commodity at the APMC market in Turbhe. The tempo toppled on the road, but the driver escaped unhurt.
The pile-up caused traffic snarl on the Mumbai carriageway for more than an hour. The vehicles involved in the accident were towed away.
Sachin Powar, PSI, said, “The 11 injured were rushed to MGM hospital.”
The deceased has been identified as Kailas Vaidande (42), a Sangli resident. He was seated next to the driver and had probably fallen asleep.
“When the truck collided with the bus, the impact of the collision hurt Vaidande’s head grievously, killing him on the spot. It looks like the truck driver dozed off while driving and lost control,” said senior inspector, Maloji Shinde.
The bus driver, Rajaram Lawand, lodged a complaint. Accordingly, Panvel taluka police arrested the truck driver, Naeem Abbas Ali, and booked him for rash and negligent driving causing death under sections 304A, 279, 337, 338, 427 and Section 184 of Motor Vehicles Act.