Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Youth leader killed in first fatal crash on Mumbai-Pune Expressway link
A new part of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, called the Connecting Link, opened on May 1.
Early Friday morning, a speeding SUV crashed into a truck carrying vegetables inside a dark tunnel on this new road.
Sadly, a man from Wakad lost his life in the crash.
Six other people were hurt, including the truck's driver and helper, and they were taken to the hospital.
The police say the SUV was going too fast when it hit the truck from behind.
They have registered a case against the SUV's driver, who was also injured.
The crash stopped traffic heading toward Mumbai for almost two hours.
Cars had to use an older road while rescue workers cleared the damaged vehicles.
The police are still investigating what happened.
It is a sad reminder that speeding can be very dangerous.
Tushar Bhumkar, a youth leader and entrepreneur from Wakad, died on the spot in the car crash inside the Connecting Link tunnel.
Six others were injured, including the goods tempo driver Rambhau Mundbe and cleaner Kuldeep Bapurao Pawar, and were hospitalised.
A Toyota Fortuner, driven by Amit Talaram Bhati of Wakad, allegedly rammed the rear of a vegetable-laden goods tempo at high speed.
The driver was booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act; police cited the SUV's high speed as the prima facie cause.
The crash halted Mumbai-bound traffic on the expressway for nearly two hours, with vehicles diverted via the old Mumbai-Pune Highway.
- Who
- Tushar Bhumkar, a youth leader and entrepreneur from Wakad, was killed, and the Fortuner driver Amit Talaram Bhati has been booked.
- What
- A speeding Toyota Fortuner crashed into the rear of a vegetable-laden goods tempo inside the Connecting Link tunnel, causing the first fatal accident on the new stretch.
- When
- Early hours of Friday, at around 1.30 am.
- Where
- Inside the nearly 9-km tunnel on the 13.3-km Connecting Link of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
- Why
- According to police, the SUV was travelling at high speed when it collided with the goods tempo from behind.
- Date and time
- Early Friday morning, around 1.30 am
- Location
- Connecting Link tunnel, Mumbai-Pune Expressway (Navi Mumbai)
- Fatalities
- 1 (Tushar Bhumkar)
- Injuries
- 6 injured, including the tempo driver and cleaner
- Vehicles involved
- Toyota Fortuner (MH 14 MG 0007) and goods tempo (MH 01 CR 7075)
- Stretch details
- 13.3-km Connecting Link with nearly 9-km tunnel, opened to traffic on May 1
- Legal action
- Driver booked under BNS Sections 106(1), 281, 125(a), 125(b), 324(4)(5) and Motor Vehicles Act Sections 184 and 177
- Prima facie cause
- High speed of the SUV
- Traffic impact
- Mumbai-bound traffic halted for nearly two hours; vehicles diverted via old Mumbai-Pune Highway