A horrific accident claimed five lives, including a four-year-old child, when a speeding SUV collided with an auto-rickshaw and a truck in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district on Monday night. The tragic incident occurred around 10:30 pm in Pimpri Khurd village on the Karad-Chiplun road, over 300 km from Mumbai, police reported. The SUV, driven by Asif Hakimuddin Saifi, 28, from Uttarakhand, first struck an auto-rickshaw carrying four passengers, dragging it for some distance before crashing into an oncoming truck.

The impact was devastating, killing all four occupants of the auto-rickshaw—Ibrahim Ismail Lone, 65, Niyaz Mohammed Hussain Sayyad, 50, Shabana Niyaz Sayyad, 40, and young Hyder Niyaz Sayyad, 4, all residents of Pune’s Parvati area—along with the SUV driver on the spot. The police have launched an investigation, registering a case to determine the exact circumstances leading to the collision, with initial reports pointing to high speed as a key factor.

The accident has sent shockwaves through the local community, raising concerns about road safety on the busy Karad-Chiplun route. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, with emergency services rushing to the site to assist. The force of the crash left both the auto-rickshaw and the SUV severely damaged, complicating rescue efforts. Authorities are now examining whether road conditions or other factors contributed to the tragedy.

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This incident underscores the growing issue of reckless driving in Maharashtra, particularly on highways connecting rural and urban areas. Local residents have called for stricter enforcement of speed limits and improved road infrastructure to prevent such tragedies. The police are also investigating the truck driver’s role, if any, and are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas to piece together the sequence of events.

As families of the victims mourn their devastating loss, the Ratnagiri accident serves as a grim reminder of the need for heightened road safety awareness. Authorities have urged drivers to exercise caution, especially during late hours when visibility is low. The investigation continues, with officials vowing to take strict action against any violations uncovered during the probe.

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