Pune: 17-year-old scooter rider crashes into divider, dies of head injury

PUNE: A 17-year-old scooter rider from Aundh died after the two-wheeler he was riding crashed into a divider on Mahadev Khalate Road off Jupiter hospital in Baner around 7.10pm on October 6. The boy was not wearing a helmet.
The advance postmortem report issued by the Aundh government hospital stated that the victim, Pratik Vijay Jagdane, died of head injury.
Assistant inspector Rajesh Malegave from the Chatushrungi police on Saturday said, "Pratik was a Std XII student. He was heading towards Baner from Aundh when he lost control over the scooter and crashed into the divider. The cement plaque installed on the divider collapsed after the crash. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital by passersby and died during treatment around 7.45pm."
The officer said, "An analysis of CCTV footage showed that the victim was not wearing a helmet and riding the scooter in a rash and negligent manner. The scooter is registered in the name of victim's father, who is a tempo driver. His parents told us that Pratik took out the scooter without informing them."
The police on Friday registered an FIR against the victim under sections 279 (rash driving) and 304 (a) (causing death due to negligence) of the IPC and sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. "We are conducting investigations into the accident and make his father a co-suspect in the case based on the probe outcomes," he said.
The victim's father, Vijay, told TOI, "Pratik was heading on his way for attending private classes when the accident occurred. We used to drop him to the classes as he was underage and therefore not allowed to ride the scooter. He took the vehicle without seeking my consent."
Vihang Shah, chairman of NGO Green Safe Bharat, said, "The traffic police have closed the right turn to Jupiter hospital for vehicle coming from Aundh. Vehicles plying in high speed take U-turn and often graze or hit the median."
Inspector Babansaheb Koli from the Chatushrungi traffic police said, "The accident spot is well maintained, but is heavily congested with vehicles plying between Aundh, Baner and Balewadi Phata because of the Metro work on Baner Road. I will inspect the spot."
PMC's assistant municipal commissioner Sandip Khalate from Aundh civic ward office said, "I will depute an engineer to find out if the divider needs repainting, reflectors are required and if a speed breaker needs to be built too. Based on the recommendations of the engineer, I will write to the road department to take corrective measures."