Deadly Expressway Crash: Trailer Rams into 25 Vehicles

Pune: 

A severe road accident unfolded on the Mumbai‑Pune Expressway on Saturday afternoon, as a container trailer truck, suffering brake failure, ploughed into a convoy of vehicles, triggering a multi vehicle pile‑up involving approximately 25 vehicles and resulting in one death and multiple injuries.

The crash occurred near the Adoshi tunnel under the jurisdiction of Khopoli police station in Khalapur taluka, Raigad district. According to officials, as the truck descended the steep Borghat section, its brakes gave out. The speeding vehicle rammed into about 25 vehicles, including luxury cars like BMW and Mercedes, an SUV, a Traveller and several light commercial vehicles over a distance nearly three to 3.5 kilometres. “It collided with vehicles in front of it. The impact was so great that the trailer dragged several vehicles nearly 3.5 km,” explained Raigad Superintendent of Police Anchal Dalal.

A 58‑year‑old woman, Anita Sahadev Ekhande of Dharashiv district, travelling in a Scorpio SUV with her family, succumbed to head injuries. She was among the first vehicles hit in the chain‑reaction crash. At least 18 others sustained injuries, ranging from moderate to serious, including a nine‑year‑old boy and two men. They were shifted to Khopoli Municipal Hospital and later transferred to MGM Hospital in Kamothe, Navi Mumbai. Two of the injured remain in critical condition on ventilator support.

Rescue operations were swift. Khopoli police, the Borghat traffic division, IRB commandos and volunteers from the Help Foundation assisted victims and cleared the wreckage. The truck driver, identified as 29‑year‑old Rajeshkumar Ramsumer Patel from Uttar Pradesh, was arrested at the scene. He tested negative for alcohol and claimed he lost control due to brake failure. A case has been filed under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for negligent and rash driving.

The crash halted traffic for nearly six kilometres, causing delays of up to 45 minutes on this busy stretch connecting Mumbai and Pune. Commuters were diverted via alternate routes until debris was cleared and the lanes reopened within 45 minutes.

At least three vehicles were completely crushed and many others heavily damaged. A 17‑seater Traveller reportedly suffered extensive wreckage, with a high number of injured occupants. Medical staff at MGM Hospital confirmed multiple serious injuries such as head trauma, spinal fractures, pelvic fractures, and collarbone injuries among survivors.

Authorities attribute the crash to mechanical failure compounded by the steep descent. The driver reportedly attempted to steer clear of heavier damage before the trailer came to rest at a roadside barrier near the Datta Food Mall area of the expressway.

This incident raises fresh concerns about road safety on the Mumbai‑Pune Expressway, particularly regarding maintenance of heavy vehicles and enforcement of safety norms on ghat sections. With over 1.5 lakh passenger car units daily on the expressway, especially high on weekends, heavy vehicles must be properly maintained to avoid catastrophic failures.

Complaints have mounted over brake systems and fitness failures in large trucks. Road safety experts say stricter checks, speed control and emergency readiness are vital to prevent such disasters on express routes known for high-speed transit.