Three people were killed and two children were injured in a collision between a car and a private bus on the Pune-Nashik Expressway at 11.15 pm on Sunday, police said on Monday.
The accident occurred near Indraprastha petrol pump near Eklahare village in Ambegaon tehsil when a speeding car crossed the barrier on the bridge ramp and collided with an oncoming bus. The accident led to a collision with the car, killing the three occupants instantly.
The victims have been identified as Mallikarjun Shivraj Ambejav, 42, his wife Aarti Ambejav, and Lata Balu Toplondi, all residents of Valhirkarwadi in Chinchwad. The two children – Mrunal Ambegav and Prem Ambegav – are undergoing treatment.
“Initial investigations indicate that the car was traveling from Nashik towards Pune, crossed the barrier and entered the opposite lane, resulting in a head-on collision with the bus,” said Shrikant Kankal, police inspector at Manchar police station.
Based on a complaint filed by bus driver Raju Chattru Rathod, 38, a resident of Nandurbar, an FIR was registered at Manchar police station in the early hours of Monday.
The police have booked the deceased auto driver, Mallikarjun Ambegav, under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (106 (1), 281, 125 (A) (B), 324, 4 and 5) and Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act for rash and negligent driving.
Police said further investigations are underway to ascertain the exact cause of the accident, although reckless driving is suspected to be the main reason behind the accident.
