One dead, four injured in Expressway mishap

Navi Mumbai: One person was killed and four were injured when a truck rammed into two cars parked along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, in Panvel taluka on Sunday.

Police said the victims were part of a group of nine people, all residents of the western suburbs, on its way back from Mangaon in Raigad district. API Ajit Zanjurne, Panvel Taluka police station, said the group hailed from villages in Mangaon and had taken part in the village fair held on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. “They left from Mangaon early on Sunday in two cars. They were nearing Kon village in Panvel taluka around 5 a.m. when the engine of one of the cars overheated. The group stopped on one side of the Expressway to look for water, when an unidentified truck came from behind and rammed into both cars, killing one person on the spot.”

He said Ram Dhavare (38), a resident of Andheri, was standing on the side of the Expressway when the truck ran over him, killing him. Two Andheri residents, identified as as Sanju Janardhan Pawar (42) and Mahadev Kokre (36), suffered serious injuries. Mr. Kokre, a State police emloyee, was attached with Amboli police station.

Two others who sustained minor injuries were identified as Vishwas Sutaram Sawant (45), also an Andheri resident, and Suryakant Chandrakant Bangude (32) from Mahim. The injured are being treated at MGM Hospital, Kamothe. Mr. Dhavare’s body was sent to civic hospital in Panvel.

Mr. Zanjurne said, “All were friends. Some owned small-scale businesses, while others had jobs. We haven’t been able to record detailed statements of the injured as they are still in trauma. A case has been registered against the unidentified truck driver. As it was dark, the truck’s registration number couldn’t be noted. The strectch isn’t covered by CCTV cameras.”