3 min readMumbai/thaneUpdated: Apr 13, 2026 09:59 PM IST
Thane accident kills 11 after a speeding cement mixer crashed into an overcrowded van near Raita Bridge, with several victims trapped in the wreckage.(Representative Photo)
At least 11 people, including three siblings, were killed in Thane district on Monday after a speeding cement mixer truck rammed an overcrowded Eco van ferrying passengers from Kalyan to Murbad. Police are looking for the truck driver who fled the spot.
According to police, the accident occurred around 11.30 am near Rayta Bridge on the Kalyan–Murbad road. The Eco van, driven by 24-year-old Prashant alias Bablu Rupesh Chandane, was headed to Murbad when the mixer truck coming from the opposite direction in high speed collided head-on with it.
The impact left the van completely mangled, trapping passengers inside. All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, were severely injured and were declared brought dead at the hospital.
“The victims were brought between 11.30 am and 12.30 pm. All had suffered severe head injuries or multiple fractures. None survived,” said medical officer Hitesh Chaudhary, of Goveli Government Hospital, about 3 km away.
The deceased are Bhushan Ghorpade (40), a revenue clerk at the Murbad tehsildar office; Jijabai Govinda Kembare (50); Ananta Pawar; Deepak Gawli; Ganpat Jainu Madhe (32); siblings Mansi (18), Sneha (16), and Prathmesh Mohape (17); Ganesh Krishna Gurav (40); Rinku Ramchandra Lodhi (40), a resident of Indore; and Chandane, a resident of Devgaon village in Murbad.
Preliminary investigation suggests the van may have been carrying more passengers than permitted. Police suspect the driver may have attempted to overtake another vehicle and moved to the opposite lane, leading to the collision. However, the exact cause will be confirmed after further probe.
Officials said traffic movement on the Rayta Bridge was restricted to a single lane due to an ongoing construction work on the opposite side, possibly contributing to the crash.
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Local residents and passersby rushed to the spot and began rescue efforts even before emergency services arrived, circulating images of the wreckage on social media. Police teams from Kalyan Taluka and Murbad stations were also involved in the efforts.
Bodies were taken to the Goveli Primary Health Centre for post-mortem and were later handed over to families. The body of Lodhi from Indore will be handed over after his family arrives.
Kalyan Taluka police have registered a case under sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 281 (rash driving) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, against both the truck and van drivers. Multiple teams have been formed to trace the absconding truck driver.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Lad said efforts are underway to identify witnesses and establish the sequence of events leading to the crash.
Manish Kumar Pathak is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates substantial Expertise and Authority across the complex field of crime reporting, with a strong focus on law enforcement actions, fraud, and cyber security challenges facing the metropolitan region.
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Manish Kumar Pathak's consistent focus on crime, fraud, and the workings of the Mumbai police system establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for critical news in Western India. ... Read More
