Van driver dies in Mumbai-Pune Expressway accident, farmer injured

NAVI MUMBAI: A driver was killed and a farmer was injured on the Mumbai-bound carriageway of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in the wee hours of Wednesday.

A pick-up van carrying melons suffered a tyre puncture on the first lane and while the driver was attending to it, a luxury bus dashed into the vehicle killing him on the spot and injuring the farmer who was standing with him.

The farmer has been admitted to MGM hospital in Kamothe. The proposed closure of E-way for the removal of loose stones was cancelled owing to a heavy flow of vehicles on the public holiday of Mahavir Jayanti.

Khopoli police sub-inspector S D Kisave said, “The accident occurred at around 4:30am. A speeding luxury bus plying from Pune to Mumbai dashed the pick-up van from behind as the driver lost control over the bus. The victim driver, Sayaji Nanavare, died due to head injury besides fractures to his leg and hand.”

The Khopoli police have booked the luxury bus driver Rahul Koli under Sections 304 (A) 279 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Koli, however, has not been arrested though he has reached the police station.