Daijiworld Media Network - Pune

Pune, Aug 11: Four youths were killed and two others injured after a speeding car collided with a divider and then crashed into a truck coming from the opposite direction on the Satara-Pune highway at Shirwal in the early hours of Tuesday.

The accident occurred around 1 am on the Pune-Bengaluru highway near Hotel Shivalay in Shirwal. According to preliminary information, the driver of the Tata Nexon lost control of the vehicle, causing it to hit the divider and overturn before colliding with the truck.

The deceased have been identified as Vedant Waringe, Sonling Thakur, Aditya Garud and Nikhil Raut. All four were reportedly from the Maval-Talegaon area.

Two other occupants were injured in the accident and are undergoing treatment at a hospital.

A case has been registered at Shirwal police station and an investigation is underway.

Personnel from Sarola Highway Police used a crane to remove the damaged vehicle from the road and restore traffic movement.

Several highways leading to Pune, including the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway, old Pune-Mumbai highway, Pune-Nashik route and Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur highway, have emerged as accident-prone stretches.

According to a report published by a private newspaper, around 355 people have died and 492 others have suffered serious injuries in various accidents reported on these four highways over the past two-and-a-half years.

Common causes of highway accidents

Overspeeding beyond prescribed limits, improper overtaking, sudden lane changes resulting in collisions with vehicles approaching from behind, using mobile phones while driving and driving under the influence of alcohol are among the common causes of highway accidents.

Accidents involving heavy vehicles also continue to account for a significant number of casualties on these highways.