Brake Failure, Fatigue or Reckless Driving? What Caused the 25-Vehicle Pile-Up Accident on Mumbai-Pune Expressway on July 26?
Mumbai/Pune, July 28, 2025: In one of the most terrifying incidents witnessed on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in recent times, a massive pile-up involving 25 vehicles occurred near the Adoshi tunnel on Saturday afternoon, July 26, 2025. The aftermath: one woman lost her life, 18 others were injured, and the chaos left commuters shaken for hours.
But what exactly led to this horrifying chain of events?
A Brake Failure That Turned Fatal
According to early reports from the Khopoli police, the root cause was mechanical failure — the brakes of a container trailer failed on a steep downhill stretch, sending the heavy vehicle hurtling into traffic ahead. Unable to stop, the trailer reportedly dragged multiple vehicles for nearly 3.5 kilometres, smashing into cars, SUVs, and a 17-seater passenger vehicle.
The impact was devastating, with seven vehicles extensively damaged and dozens more dented or pushed off the road.
Video Taken Moments Before the Crash
However another video, taken by a driver just moments before the deadly crash near Khopoli on July 26 on Mumbai-Pune Expressway shows that trailer was at high speed, given the slippery road conditions, the driver should have been extra cautious while negotiating the slope.
When he realized brake failure, apparently he tried to veer onto the left shoulder to avoid hitting cars and other vehicles. However the left shoulder was fully occupied as drivers usually don’t treat it as an emergency lane, rather an overtaking or stopping lane, and the disaster could be not be averted.
Some reports are also attributing driver fatigue as the reason of the crash. The trailer driver may have dozed off and realized he was too close to impacting the trailer ahead of him and panicked after waking up. However if he had found that his truck was already out of control, it may have been safer for him to rear-end the trailer ahead, which, due to its size, could have absorbed the impact more effectively, potentially reducing the scale of devastation.
Watch the entire sequence of events here:
2/2 ⚠️ Shocking footage from July 26 shows what led to the pile-up on the #MumbaiPuneExpressway near Khopoli 🛣️
— PuneNow (@itspunenow) July 28, 2025
🚛 A massive trailer seen barreling downhill at high speed
🌧️ Slippery road conditions, zero braking
🚫 Left shoulder blocked — no room to swerve
😴 Possible driver… pic.twitter.com/Pu4bMebXS6
Lives Upended in an Instant
The lone fatality was Anita Sahadev Ekhande, a 58-year-old woman from Padoli village in Dharashiv district, who was traveling with her family in an SUV. Her vehicle bore the brunt of the collision.
Among the 18 injured were 15 women, two men, and a 9-year-old child. Rescue efforts were swift, with volunteers from the HELP Foundation and emergency responders rushing to the site. Seventeen victims were admitted to MGM Hospital in Kamothe, while one was taken to a private facility.
Dr. Kuldeep Raj Salgotra, Director of MGM Hospital, confirmed one patient remains critical with serious head injuries and is currently on ventilator support. Others have sustained fractures to the pelvis, collarbone, and spine.
Driver Arrested, Investigation Underway
The 29-year-old driver, Rajeshkumar Ramsumer Patel, has been taken into custody. Authorities have ruled out intoxication. Raigad Superintendent of Police Anchal Dalal confirmed that the trailer’s brakes likely failed on the steep incline.
“The initial assessment points to mechanical failure. We’ve initiated a detailed technical investigation of the vehicle,” said SP Dalal.
Need for Action: Can This Be Prevented?
This tragic event is a chilling reminder of the risks on India’s busiest expressway. With vehicles often descending at high speed from hilly terrains, regular maintenance checks, speed monitoring, and emergency escape lanes must be a priority.
Experts and commuters alike are calling for stricter enforcement of fitness certifications, better signage before critical zones like Adoshi tunnel, and increased vigilance by traffic authorities.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway, while a marvel of connectivity, has seen several such accidents in the past — often due to mechanical failures or human negligence. The Khopoli pile-up is yet another case where a single malfunction turned deadly.
As the investigation continues, the focus must shift toward accountability and preventive infrastructure to ensure such tragedies are not repeated.
Highway experts stress that driver training, especially for heavy vehicles, must include emergency protocol for brake failures and slope navigation.
