Deadly Brake Failure: 8 Killed, 20 Injured as Car Sandwiched in Multi-Vehicle Pune Highway Pile-Up
Pune, November 13, 2025 – A devastating road accident on Thursday evening near the infamous Navale Bridge in Pune claimed the lives of at least eight people and left 20 others injured after a massive pile-up involving approximately eight vehicles.
The incident occurred around 5:30 PM on the Katraj–Dehu Road Bypass section of the busy Mumbai–Bengaluru Highway, a stretch frequently noted for high-speed crashes.
According to Pune City Police, the tragedy began when a speeding truck, travelling from Satara towards Mumbai, reportedly suffered a catastrophic brake failure while descending the slope near the bridge’s “Selfie Point.” The driver lost control of the heavy vehicle, which then rammed into multiple cars ahead of it, triggering a chain collision.
The impact was most severe for one car, which was instantly sandwiched between the runaway truck and a large container vehicle in front. The force of the crush was so immense that the sandwiched vehicle, along with at least one other, burst into flames.
Police and fire brigade teams from Pune rushed to the scene to launch extensive rescue and firefighting operations. Fire engines worked quickly to douse the blaze engulfing the wreckage while emergency services worked to extract the victims.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Kadam confirmed the death toll and stated that the primary cause appears to be mechanical failure in the truck. Traffic on the Satara-to-Mumbai lane was temporarily diverted as authorities cleared the heavily mangled vehicles and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals. An investigation has been launched to determine the precise sequence of events leading to the fatal crash.
The accident site is notorious for severe collisions, with a major incident reported in November 2022 where a truck struck 48 vehicles in the same area. Authorities have issued traffic advisories urging motorists to avoid the affected route.
