Mumbai-Pune Highway Accident

One Dead, 18 Injured as Out-of-Control Truck Ploughs Into 20 Vehicles on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

A horrific accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway claimed the life of a woman and left 18 others injured on Saturday after a speeding container truck lost control and rammed into a line of vehicles, resulting in a massive pile-up.

The incident occurred on a steep downhill stretch near Khopoli, when the truck — traveling from Pune toward Mumbai — reportedly suffered a brake failure. According to police, the driver lost control of the heavy vehicle and slammed into a long line of cars, many of which were at a standstill in traffic.

The impact was so severe that the truck reportedly dragged several vehicles for nearly 3.5 kilometers before coming to a halt. At least seven vehicles, including luxury models such as BMWs and Mercedes-Benz cars, were extensively damaged in the crash. In total, more than 20 vehicles were involved.

“It collided with multiple vehicles in front of it. The momentum caused a chain reaction, crushing cars and creating chaos on the expressway,” said Raigad Superintendent of Police Anchal Dalal, speaking to Hindustan Times.

Nineteen people sustained injuries and were rushed to a private hospital in Navi Mumbai for treatment. Among them was 58-year-old Anita Sahadev Ekhande, a resident of Padoli village in Dharashiv district, who later succumbed to her injuries. She was reportedly traveling with her family in an SUV when the crash occurred.

Emergency services, including police and highway patrol teams, worked for several hours to clear the wreckage and restore the flow of traffic. The accident caused major delays on the busy expressway, which is one of the main arterial routes between Mumbai and Pune.

The Khopoli Police have taken the truck driver into custody. A preliminary medical examination confirmed that he was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Authorities have registered a case and are investigating the technical cause of the brake failure, as well as whether the vehicle had passed required safety checks.

Officials have urged motorists to be cautious, especially while navigating steep downhill sections of the expressway, which have seen several accidents in the past due to overspeeding and mechanical failures.