Dumper hits Ajit Pawar’s vehicle at Vashi

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had a narrow escape on Monday morning as a speeding dumper hit his vehicle on the Vashi creek bridge. His escort vehicle, too, was hit. No injuries were reported in the accident and the police have arrested the dumper driver.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had a narrow escape on Monday morning as a speeding dumper hit his vehicle on the Vashi creek bridge. His escort vehicle, too, was hit. No injuries were reported in the accident and the police have arrested the dumper driver.

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The accident occurred around 9.05am when Pawar was heading towards Mumbai in his Land Cruiser followed by a Bolero, his escort vehicle. As the convoy reached Vashi bridge, an empty dumper driven by Chhotu Viren Kusvah, 22, that was coming from the opposite direction, jumped the divider and crossed on to the side from which Pawar’s convoy was passing. It hit the right side of the Land Cruiser damaging the indicator, the rear door and the diesel tank cover. It then went on to hit the Bolero damaging the mudguard of the front wheels.

Police Naik Vikas Bhapkar, 37, attached to the special security branch of Pune police, who was driving Pawar’s vehicle registered a complaint against the driver Kusvah, a resident of Chembur. The damage to the vehicles has been estimated at Rs 1.15 lakh.

Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vijay Patil said, “Prima facie this seems to be a case of negligence on the part of the driver.”