Thane: A father-son duo and their driver were killed, while two others sustained injuries after two pick-up vans collided head-on at high speed near Malshej Ghat on National Highway 61 early Sunday morning.The fatal crash occurred around 6 am near Karchonde Phata within the jurisdiction of the Tokawade police station in Thane district.According to police, a pickup van carrying three local residents was heading from Tokawade towards Alephata. Around 100 metres past Karchonde Phata, it collided head-on with another pickup van transporting poultry that was travelling from the opposite direction towards Kalyan. The force of the impact was so severe that the front cabins of both vehicles were completely mangled.All three occupants in the first vehicle succumbed to fatal injuries on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Maruti Tukaram Khare (55), his son Ajit Maruti Khapare (25), and their driver Ram Malu Sapate (40), all residents of Khedle-Talavale village in Murbad taluka.The two occupants of the poultry van—both residents of Ulhasnagar—sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.“Both vehicles were travelling at high speed when the head-on collision took place. Based on our preliminary inquiry, a case has been registered against the poultry van driver, Hafiz Sheikh Helai Sheikh, a resident of Ulhasnagar. Further investigation is underway,” said Sheetalkumar Naik, assistant police inspector at Tokawade police station.Police booked Sheikh under relevant sections for rash and negligent driving causing death.
