A Pune-based builder suffered injuries while his driver was killed when their car was hit by a container truck near Khandala in the district, police said.
The builder, D S Kulkarni, along with one of his associates and his driver Neeraj Singh were returning to Pune in the car late last night.
“When they came out of the Khandala tunnel, a container, which was coming from Pune side, might have lost control and landed on opposite lane of the road and dashed against the car on Mumbai-Pune Expressway,” a Lonavla police station duty officer said.
Singh died on the spot in the mishap, he said, adding that the builder’s associate escaped unhurt.
Kulkarni was rushed to a private hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad for treatment and is said to be out of danger, he said.
The container truck driver did not stop at the accident spot and drove away, he said.
“We have registered a case against the unidentified driver. We are taking help of CCTV footage at the toll plaza to identify the vehicle,” he said.
Dr Shrikrishna Joshi of Lokmanya Hosptial, where Kulkarni has been admitted for treatment, said the builder sustained injuries on his left side ribs, but is out of danger.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader and MLC Neelam Gorhe wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and sought a “high level” probe into the accident.
“There should be strict norms and lane discipline should be enforced,” Gorhe said.
