Pratik Ramkisan Jagdale, a 38‑year‑old Mahindra XUV driver, fell asleep at the wheel and collided with a moving container on the Samruddhi Expressway near Verul, Maharashtra, on Saturday. The vehicle, traveling from Nashik to Jalna, slid under the truck, its front crumpling as the windshield shattered and the bonnet was crushed.
The impact left Jagdale, his wife Shreya Rajendra Pandey and their three‑year‑old son dead. The child’s name has not yet been released by family or police.
Police Commissioner Mohsin Sheikh said the Quick Response Team reached the scene within minutes and recovered the bodies. He added that a case has been registered under Section 302 of the IPC.
Daulatabad police are probing whether driver fatigue or mechanical failure caused the crash. The investigation will review CCTV footage from nearby toll plazas and interview witnesses along the 70‑km stretch.
The Samruddhi Expressway, a key freight corridor linking Nashik to Jalna, has seen a rise in heavy‑vehicle incidents, prompting calls for stricter monitoring of driver alertness and road maintenance.
Drivers are urged to take regular breaks and report any signs of drowsiness. A full investigative report is expected by the end of next week.