At least 12 people were killed and more than 35 others injured after a speeding container truck rammed into an Eicher truck carrying wedding guests on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway in Palghar district, Maharashtra, on Monday, 18 May, police said. The collision, one of the deadliest road accidents on this stretch in recent months, occurred near Dhanivari village in the Kasa area.

How the Accident Unfolded

The wedding party had departed from Bapu village in Dahanu and was en route to Dhanivari for a marriage ceremony when the container truck, travelling from Gujarat towards Mumbai, struck their vehicle with considerable force. The impact caused both vehicles to overturn on the highway, trapping several passengers inside the wreckage.

Initial reports indicated that more than 40 people were aboard the Eicher truck, though some local accounts suggested the figure could have exceeded 100 passengers — raising immediate concerns about severe overcrowding. Investigators are examining whether the vehicle was loaded beyond its permitted capacity.

Rescue Operations and Casualties

The crash triggered panic among local residents, who rushed to the scene and began pulling survivors from the mangled vehicles before emergency services arrived. Police personnel and rescue teams subsequently carried out a full evacuation of the site, extracting injured passengers from beneath and inside the overturned truck.

The 35-plus injured were admitted to Kasa Sub-District Hospital and nearby facilities including Vedant Hospital. Hospital sources said several patients remained in critical condition and could be transferred to higher medical centres for advanced care if required. The bodies of those killed have been sent for post-mortem examination, officials confirmed.

Investigation and Preliminary Findings

Police have initiated a panchnama and a spot inspection as part of the formal inquiry. Preliminary findings suggest that speeding and negligence by the container truck driver may have caused the crash, according to officials. Investigators are also probing whether the wedding vehicle was overloaded beyond its legal limit — a factor that, if confirmed, would point to a dual failure of road safety compliance.

Notably, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway has seen a pattern of fatal accidents involving heavy commercial vehicles, with overcrowded passenger vehicles among the most vulnerable. This is the latest in a series of high-casualty crashes on this corridor.

Traffic Disruption and Ongoing Inquiry

Traffic movement on the busy highway remained disrupted for several hours as rescue operations and the removal of damaged vehicles continued. Authorities said a detailed investigation was underway to establish the precise sequence of events. A full report is expected once the panchnama and forensic examination of both vehicles are complete.