Pune-Nashik Highway Tragedy: Teen Driver's Recklessness Claims a Life, Injures Two Others

Late Saturday night on November 17, 2024, on the Pune-Nashik highway, a harrowing accident unfolded as an SUV driven by a 17-year-old engineering student lost control, jumping a divider and fatally striking an autorickshaw driver. The crash also injured two motorcyclists, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The driver, later found to be under the influence of alcohol, was a minor from a central government-run residential engineering college in Dighi, originally hailing from Haryana.

The autorickshaw driver, identified as 27-year-old Amod Kamble of Bhosari, tragically lost his life on the spot. The driver’s 20-year-old friend, who owned the SUV, and the teenager escaped with minor injuries. Witness accounts painted a chaotic scene, with the SUV colliding with multiple vehicles before halting after crashing into trees. Among the injured was Murtuza Bohra’s cousin, who narrowly survived, recounting the accident as something straight out of an action movie.

Authorities quickly detained the driver, invoking charges including culpable homicide and drunk driving. Police reports indicated that the teen admitted to being intoxicated at the time and struggling to control the vehicle. He was referred to a medical test, with results pending, while the Juvenile Justice Board ordered him into an observation home. Investigations continue into the source of the alcohol, including whether it was purchased at a bar or consumed in the vehicle.

This incident is a grim reminder of the dangers of underage and drunk driving. It echoes a similar accident in May, where another teenager behind the wheel of a luxury car caused fatalities. While such incidents highlight the importance of stricter regulations and enforcement, they also underscore the need for greater awareness and education about responsible driving, particularly among young drivers.

The crash has left a deep scar on the victims' families, raising urgent questions about accountability and prevention measures to avoid such tragedies in the future.