A horrific accident in the Gittikhadan area late on February 16 resulted in the deaths of a 50-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy, while several others sustained severe injuries. The mishap occurred when a speeding pickup truck, allegedly driven under the influence of alcohol, crashed into two motorcycles. Police have registered a case against the driver.
The victims, belonging to the Dhanwate and Turkar families from Kalmeshwar, were on their way home after celebrating a wedding anniversary at a relative’s house in Nagpur. Around 11:00 PM, while traveling on two motorcycles near Gorewada on Katol Road, a pickup truck (MH 40 AK 3590) coming from Kalmeshwar lost control and rammed into them at high speed.
According to police sources, the pickup was driven by Navin Ramji Panse (27), a resident of Khapri, Ghorad (Kalmeshwar). Allegedly under the influence of alcohol, he recklessly crashed into an Activa scooter (MH 40 CN 6239) ridden by Payal Nitin Turkar (30), causing the vehicle to overturn. The truck then collided with another motorcycle (MH 40 DS 7422) carrying Gautam Vasudevraj Dhanwate (37), his wife Trunali (30), and their daughter Pranjali (10).
The impact left all riders on both two-wheelers critically injured. Passersby and police personnel rushed them to Mayo Hospital, from where they were later shifted to the Trauma Center at GMCH. Despite medical efforts, Prabhabai Prabhakar Dhanwate (50) was declared dead at 5:15 AM on February 17, followed by 10-year-old Harsh Turkar at 8:20 AM.
Following a complaint by Gautam Dhanwate, Gittikhadan police registered a case against the accused driver, Navin Panse, under IPC Sections 281 (rash driving), 125(A), 125(B), and 105, along with Sections 184 and 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which pertain to reckless and drunken driving.