A speeding LPG tanker rammed into a stranded container truck on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway and subsequently burst into flames, killing its driver and severely injuring a motorist in Kasara, Thane rural on Tuesday morning. The smooth flow of traffic was disrupted for at least seven hours.
The Kasara police said at around 7.10 am, a container truck turned turtle on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway near Sai Baba Khind and 10 minutes later, the LPG tanker rammed into it.
“The accident took place on a curve. The driver of the tanker was speeding while getting down the slope. He might not have seen the stranded container,” said assistant inspector Vilas Shende.
“Within 20 minutes after the collision, gas started leaking and the tanker caught fire and burst. Both the vehicles got charred and the tanker’s driver, who sustained injuries in the collision, could not get out. We are probing whose negligence has led to the accident,” added Mr Shende.
Huge flames spread around a radius of 500 metres from the accident spot. A motorist, who was stuck in his Maruti Omni at a distance of 500 metres, suffered 60 per cent burn injuries.
The victim, Vinod Valvante (25), is a resident of Kasara and a driver by profession. He was rushed to Vakratunda Hospital in Nashik at a distance of 45 kilometres.
The driver of the tanker, Birendra Singh (27), is a native of Uttar Pradesh. The tanker had set off from Chembur and was on its way to Sinnar. Two lanes of the highway were shut down till 9.30 am, while the other two were shut till 2 pm.