One killed, four injured after sedan crashes into pole in Mumbai-Pune Expressway mishap

NAVI MUMBAI: One person was killed and four others injured after their sedan met with an accident on the Mumbai lane of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Sunday.

The incident took place 10-12km from Khalapur toll plaza. The group of four friends accompanied by one of their relatives was returning to Dombivli after visiting

Ekvira Temple

at Karla in Lonavla.

The injured are Ritesh Mhatre (26), a Dombivli resident, his maternal uncle Prakash Karbhari, a resident of Kalyan and a Shiv Sena activist, who is the owner of the car. The other two injured are Mhatre’s friends Rohan Patil and Sambhaji Chavhan, who was at the wheel.

The deceased has been identified as Dnyaneshwar Kene, also from Dombivli, who was sitting behind the driver.

Khalapur assistant police inspector

Mahindra Shelar

said, “According to Chavhan, the accident occurred as he was compelled to apply sudden brakes because a car ahead of them suddenly slowed down.” To avoid crashing into that car, he veered toward the right, lost control and crashed into a pole on the road median. The car’s tyre burst and the vehicle somersaulted thrice and landed on the first lane of Pune carriageway. Fortunately, there were no vehicles on that side. Shelar said, “The five victims were rushed to

MGM Hospital

in Kamothe, where Kene, who had sustained head injuries, was declared brought dead.” If the RTO report reveals reckless driving as the cause of accident, the driver will be booked.