Khopoli Police have registered a case against the unidentified driver of the truck involved in Saturday's fatal accident on the Mumbai-Pune old highway near the HOC bridge in Bhor Ghat. Preliminary investigations suggest that negligence in securing the truck's heavy cargo led to the death of two people and injuries to six others, the Free Press Journal reported.

Source: Free Press Journal via NewsPoint

The truck, bearing registration number KA-56-6263, was carrying massive iron pipes from Mumbai to Pune when several of them fell off while the vehicle was passing over the HOC bridge on Saturday evening. The falling pipes struck a car and a two-wheeler travelling behind the truck. Ankita Shinde (28), who was travelling in the car with her family, and Rutika Chavan (20), a pillion rider on the scooter, died in the accident.

Source: OB News

Those injured include Vaibhav Galande (29), Sonali Khadadate (33), Shivraj Khadadate (6), Lata Shinde (50) and Lalit Shinde (30), who were admitted to hospitals in Khopoli. Police Inspector Sachin Hire of Khopoli police station said the injured received minor injuries and were discharged on Saturday late night.

Hire said the driver not only failed to secure the cargo properly but also fled the scene without informing authorities or helping the injured. The owner of the truck is based in Nagothane in Raigad district and has been served with a notice by the police seeking information about the driver involved in the accident.

The mishap caused major disruption on the highway, with traffic piling up for over an hour. The road was cleared with the help of local accident response teams, and social workers Sanjay Mhatre and Ankush More helped transport the injured to hospitals. Police said the investigation into the cargo negligence is continuing.