Maharashtra accident: Three men killed after being hit by SUV near Tawade Hotel Chowk; driver flees

KOLHAPUR: Three men died early Thursday morning after being hit by an SUV while warming themselves by a bonfire near Tawade Hotel Chowk on the Pune–Bengaluru National Highway.The incident occurred at around 5.30 am.The deceased have been identified as Dilip Annappa Pawar, 65, from Valivade Road, Gandhinagar; Sudhir Kamlakar Kamble, 41, from Atpadi in Sangli district; and Vinay Singh Goud, 27, from Madhya Pradesh. According to the police, the SUV was being driven by its owner towards Pune. "The driver attempted to avoid hitting another vehicle that was trying to overtake. In haste, he pressed the accelerator instead of the brake and hit the three men by the bonfire. All three died on the spot. One was a migrant labourer and two were locals. The deceased have been identified and their families informed. They were taken to CPR Hospital for post-mortem. An FIR will be filed against the driver," said Santosh Doke, inspector at Shahupuri Police Station. The driver fled the scene. Police are currently tracing him, the vehicle has Thane city registration.