A truck driver lost control over his vehicle, killing a one-year-old girl and injuring six others at Lonikand on Pune-Ahmednagar highway on Sunday morning. The incident is similar to the one involving Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation driver Santosh Mane that took place in January.
The deceased was identified as Priya Sundar Chavan, resident of Lonikand. Her parents, Sundar and Pratibha were injured. Apart from them Jitendra Salve, Anita Salave (both residents of Dighi), Rajendra Karpe (resident of Khed taluka) were injured in the accident, out of which the condition of Pratibha Chavan and Jitendra Salave is serious. The sixth victim received minor injuries.
The accident took place in front of Pandharinath hotel, which is 200 meters from Lonikand police station. The police detained the truck driver, Somnath Mulik. Senior police inspector RG Patil said, “We have detained Mulik and he will be taken for a medical examination. We are also going to examine the truck to find out whether there was any mechanical fault due to which he lost control.”
Narrating the incident, Patil said, “Mulik was on his way from Nagar to Pune in his truck. However, when the truck reached Pandharinath hotel, Mulik lost control and it hit a goods carrier. It did not stop, but also hit a two-wheeler that Jitendra was riding with his wife Anita. The truck went on to hit Priya Chavan and her parents who had come to the market for shopping. Priya died on the spot, while her parents were injured. After injuring one more person, the truck damaged a shop .”
