Elderly Morning Walker Killed by Speeding Bike in Pune; Second Such Tragedy in a Month
In a tragic incident on Thursday morning, a 70-year-old man on his daily walk was fatally struck by a speeding motorcycle on Karve Road, Pune. The victim, identified as Pandurang Lande, a retired small business owner and farmer from Kothrudgaon, died on the spot.
The biker, a 20-year-old engineering student from Shrirampur, was riding a high-end 400cc motorcycle gifted by his father just two months ago. Police said he was speeding towards his college near Paud Road when he lost control at a curve near the Karve statue junction, crashing into Lande as the elderly man was crossing the road. The impact threw both into the air, with Lande being dragged several meters before succumbing to his injuries. The student, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered severe head injuries and is currently hospitalized.
This marks the second such fatality in Pune within a month. In April, a 49-year-old security agency manager was killed by a speeding car in Undri.
Senior Inspector Sunita Rokade of Alankar Police stated that a case is being filed against the biker, and the motorcycle has been seized. Eyewitnesses reported reckless speeding by young riders in the area, with many ignoring traffic signals.
An autorickshaw driver helped transport the injured to a nearby hospital, while local shopkeepers expressed frustration over frequent speeding incidents. “I often see youngsters racing down this road,” said a shop owner near the accident site. “This was bound to happen.”
Authorities are urging stricter enforcement of traffic rules to prevent further tragedies.
