Another Tragic Crash on Samruddhi Expressway: 2 Dead, 3 Critical in Washim Collision Involving One Family
Another Tragic Crash on Samruddhi Expressway: 2 Dead, 3 Critical in Washim Collision Involving One Family
In a devastating turn of events, a routine drive along one of Maharashtra’s most advanced expressways ended in tragedy late last night. A family traveling from Pune to Umred met with a catastrophic accident on the Samruddhi Mahamarg (Samruddhi Expressway), leaving two members dead on the spot and three others critically injured.
The incident occurred between Vanoja and Karanja in Washim district, at Channel Number 215 on the Nagpur-bound corridor, when the driver of a Maruti Suzuki Ertiga lost control of the vehicle. The car veered off track, slammed into the divider, and in a matter of seconds, a peaceful journey turned into a nightmarish scene of twisted metal and shattered glass.
The victims were all members of the Jaiswal family, traveling from Pune to Umred. In the crash, Vaidehi Jaiswal and Madhuri Jaiswal died instantly due to the severe impact. Meanwhile, Chetan Jaiswal, Radheshyam Jaiswal, and Sangeeta Jaiswal sustained critical injuries. Emergency responders and nearby locals rushed to the scene to assist. The injured were immediately transported to Washim District Hospital for treatment.
Witnesses described the scene as harrowing — the car had not only hit the divider but also tore through the iron safety grill placed along the edge of the expressway. Such was the force of the collision that the metal railings pierced the vehicle, leading to the car being completely mangled.
This is not an isolated incident. In fact, the frequency of such accidents on the Samruddhi Expressway has been alarming in recent weeks. The wide, open road — designed for speed and efficiency — has also become a hotspot for dangerous driving behavior. Over-speeding, loss of vehicle control, and lack of adherence to traffic norms are emerging as the major culprits.
Just last week, Sunil Hekre, a renowned businessman from Nashik, lost his life in a separate accident on the same expressway. He was traveling with his wife and two children in a luxury Mercedes-Benz from Mumbai to Nashik when their car crashed beyond the Igatpuri tunnel in Shahapur limits. The vehicle reportedly flipped three times, ejecting Hekre from the car. According to doctors, he suffered fatal head injuries and heavy blood loss, dying on the spot. His wife and children were left critically injured.
Adding to the tragedy, Hekre’s family alleged that delayed medical assistance at the crash site contributed to his death — a claim that highlights the urgent need for faster emergency response systems on the expressway.
Following the recent inauguration of the 76-kilometer Igatpuri-Amne stretch (the fourth and final phase of the expressway), the number of reported accidents has surged. The very infrastructure that was celebrated for reducing travel time across Maharashtra is now under scrutiny for safety concerns.
Earlier this year, in another tragic crash near Washind village in Shahapur taluka, a Cruiser jeep collided with a truck, resulting in two fatalities and seven injuries. The deceased were identified as Abdul Pasha Sheikh (65) and Jahid Siddiqui (40). Among the injured were two children, three women, and two men, again raising alarms about the kind of vehicles, passenger loads, and speed on this route.
