Bridegroom dies, bride receives fractures in SUV-van crash

AURANGABAD: A 24-year-old newly married man and his cousin were killed and six others were injured when their SUV collided with a milk van on the Dhule-Solapur National Highway 211 on Wednesday morning.
The bride, who was also travelling in the SUV, suffered some fractures.
The deceased have been identified as Sumit Shankarrao Ghodse and his cousin Vandana Shivaji Choudhari (30), both hailing from Chikangaon.
Sources said that Sumit got married at Rajur on May 4. As per the rituals, the newly wed couple along with three of their family members started from their home in Khedgaon village, Badnapur tehsil in Jalna district around 4.30am in their newly purchased SUV that was being driven by Sumit. The family was on its way to Tuljapur temple.
Near Pachod, which is 60 km away from Aurangabad, the SUV collided with the milk van that was coming from Beed at 5.30am.
Police said the driver of the milk van sustained injuries.
Sumit's wife, Ashwini (21), sustained fractures and was taken the to Government Medical College and Hospital Aurangabad where she is undergoing treatment. Her condition was stated to be stable.
Two other members of Sumit's family and three others in the milk suffered minor injuries.
On learning about the accident, assistant inspectors of Gondi police station and Pachod police station Anil Parjane and Mahesh Andhale rushed to the spot with their teams. They carried out the rescue operation and cleared the national highway.
Police suspect that Sumit lost control over the SUV while taking a turn and rammed into the van that was coming from the opposite direction.
Police said that due to the ongoing construction of the road, several signs have been put up on the national highway appealing to drivers not to cross the stipulated speed limit but many motorists ignore the same.
A case of rash driving and causing death due to negligence has been registered against the drivers of both the vehicles at the Gondi police station.