A tragic pile-up on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday, July 26, 2025, resulted in the death of a 58-year-old woman and injuries to eighteen others. The incident, involving approximately 20 to 25 vehicles, occurred near the Adoshi tunnel, within the Khopoli police station limits in the Khalapur taluka of Raigad district.
Preliminary investigations point to brake failure in a speeding container trailer truck as the primary cause of the catastrophic event. According to police reports, the trailer was traveling downhill from Pune towards Mumbai when the brakes failed, causing the driver to lose control. The uncontrolled truck rammed into multiple vehicles ahead, setting off a chain reaction. Raigad Superintendent of Police Anchal Dalal stated that the trailer collided with vehicles in front of it and dragged several of them for nearly 3.5 km due to the momentum and impact. Seven vehicles were extensively damaged in the pile-up. Luxury cars, including BMW and Mercedes-Benz models, were among the vehicles involved. At least three vehicles were completely crushed in the accident.
The deceased was identified as Anita Sahadev Ekhande, a resident of Padoli village in Dharashiv district. She was traveling with her family in an SUV when the tragedy occurred.
The Khopoli police have arrested the trailer driver, 29-year-old Rajeshkumar Ramsumer Patel. While a medical examination confirmed that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol, a case has been registered, and further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the brake failure and other circumstances leading to the accident.
Seventeen of the injured were admitted to MGM Hospital in Kamothe, and one was treated at a private hospital. Dr. Kuldeep Raj Salgotra from MGM Hospital reported that one patient is in critical condition with head trauma and is on ventilator support. Others suffered fractures to the pelvis, spine, collarbone, and limbs.
The accident caused a traffic jam stretching nearly five kilometers, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded. Emergency services were quickly deployed to assist the injured and clear the debris. Volunteers from the HELP Foundation also assisted in rescue efforts at the accident site.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is one of India's busiest, handling approximately 1.5 to 2 lakh vehicles daily, with even higher numbers on weekends. This incident underscores the urgent need for rigorous vehicle maintenance, especially for heavy-duty trailers, and stricter monitoring on hilly expressway routes. Regular brake system checks and enforcement of load limits are critical to prevent such tragedies in the future.
