PUNE: A 35-year-old man on a motorcycle and a woman (25) and her six-month-old son riding pillion on another bike were killed after a truck carrying tiles from Chandni Chowk to Paud hit their vehicles as well as a car around 6.15pm at Lavale Phata near Pirangut here on Sunday.
The woman's husband, who was riding the motorcycle, and four people in the car were injured. The truck driver claimed his brakes had failed.
Assistant inspector Ramesh Gaikwad of Paud police said, "Pirangut resident Rashmi Patel, her six-month-old son, Rihansh, and Nande resident Tanaji Dhamale were killed. Rashmi's husband, Pawan, who is employed with a private bank, has been admitted to a private hospital with severe injuries. The other injured victims were discharged from the hospital after preliminary treatment".
Truck driver Shashikant Mandhwe told us he was unable to control the heavy vehicle because of a brake failure.
"We are verifying his claims and will get the truck examined by technical experts from the Regional Transport Office (RTO)", the officer said.
He added, "Mandhwe tried to run away from the accident spot but was caught by some passersby and handed over to the police. We have arrested him on the charge of rash and negligent driving."
Gaikwad said the truck had picked up tiles from a store at Loni Kalbhor and was to deliver the consignment at Pirangut.
It crossed the ghat section leading to Pirangut along the Paud Road and lost control on the downward gradient.
"The truck hit four vehicles from behind at the Lavale Phata junction, which is usually a crowded place," Gaikwad said.
On Tuesday, a 26-year-old pillion rider was killed, while his friend riding the bike was injured after their vehicle hit a non-illuminated divider in Koregaon Park.
