The probe report talked about that the pace of the Mercedes automotive was 100 kmph and the influence pace was 89 kmph on the time of the crash, TOI has learnt. The notified pace restrict on this stretch was 40 kmph. “It was a lethal cocktail of overspeeding, overtaking from the left, altering of lane, non-wearing of seatbelt and two of the seven airbags not deploying,” mentioned a supply.
Officers added that the 6-lane divided carriageway is sort of a four-lane highway and the pace restrict has been fastened at 40 kmph contemplating the excessive automobile circulate. The probe has advisable interventions primarily based on a few of the civil engineering-related deficiencies it has discovered. It has additionally urged realignment of highway geometry on the spot.
Union highway transport secretary Giridhar Aramane mentioned, “The highway has a load of round 1.6 lakh passenger automotive items (PCUs) per day and therefore there may be hardly any scope for widening and the location additionally doesn’t allow to hold out any main modifications. Even closing a single lane would end in visitors jam for kilometres as a result of excessive quantity of visitors. Contemplating the visitors progress on this stretch, we’re constructing a Greenfield stretch between Vadodara and Mumbai as part of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway. As soon as that’s operational, there shall be much less visitors on this stretch.”
On the forensic report, Aramane mentioned, “Throughout investigation, police have recognized dashing as the primary motive for the crash. The state must deploy freeway patrol events on this stretch. On the just lately held assembly with states, we now have urged them to strengthen freeway patrolling and enforcement.”
In keeping with the report, the Mercedes was on the left lane whereas negotiating a curve. There have been autos on its proper and left and the automotive tried to overhaul the automobile on the left, moments earlier than the crash. In the course of the overtaking manoeuvre, the automotive went over the left paved shoulder and hit the parapet of a bridge because the highway narrows down.
The report additionally mentions that whereas the entrance, knee and curtain airbags have been deployed on the motive force’s aspect, the entrance curtain airbag on the co-passenger seat didn’t deploy. The rear curtain airbag on the left additionally didn’t deploy.
It mentioned extra particulars from the carmaker and the variations of the survivors shall be included later.
