Police book both drivers in Umred Road accident case

Nagpur: A day after bus-truck smash up that left four persons dead and 20 injured near Champa village on Umred Road, Kuhi police have registered a case of rash driving and causing death due to negligence against drivers of both vehicles. Police said the murrum-carrying truck, which was hit by a speeding bus, was parked on the road without activating hazard lights.

Police had sent the injured to hospitals in private vehicles and the police van as the 108 ambulance did not arrive on time. Some 18 persons were taken to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) of whom four were declared dead on arrival.

The deceased have been identified as Shankar Kevte (45), his wife Pramila (45), driver of the bus Kartik Gongal (35) and conductor Sonu Thakre (31). It is learnt that the truck ran out of fuel stranding it on the roadside.

On Monday, post-mortem of the deceased was carried out at GMCH. The condition of other injured in the accident at GMCH is currently stable. A senior official from the Kuhi police station said, “It was raining heavily and the truck driver just parked the truck on the roadside without activating hazard lights which could have warned the vehicles coming from behind. Bus driver Kartik, though dead, has also been booked for speeding.”

Police are trying to identify the truck driver who is absconding. They seized the vehicle. They will verify the documents of the vehicle and driver.

Sonu’s widow Mamta told TOI, “We got married just two years ago and have a son. Sonu was my only hope in this world.” It is learnt Sonu did not have many relatives and his economic condition was also not good. His friends pooled in money to perform his last rites.