Thane: A truck driver and his assistant were killed after he lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a mishap on the Patlipada flyover along the Thane to Gaimukh lane of Ghodbunder Highway in the early hours of Tuesday, officials informed.According to a preliminary investigation, the driver of the truck, which was carrying eight tonnes of iron pipes and rods from Navi Mumbai to Gujarat, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a streetlight pole on the median around 12:35 am. The impact of the collision was such that it mangled the cabin, trapping the truck driver, Vinod (42), and his helper, Rahim Pathan (25), both residents of Uttar Pradesh, informed Yasin Tadvi, in charge at the Thane Regional Disaster Management Cell.Rescue teams from the Thane Fire Brigade, Disaster Management Cell, and the local police were alerted and rushed to the spot with two hydra cranes, a fire engine, a rescue vehicle, a pickup van, and a private ambulance. The victims were extricated with joint efforts from the emergency response teams and rushed to the local hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.Meanwhile, the mishap impacted traffic movement on the highway as vehicular movement was completely halted in both directions on the flyover for nearly three hours after iron rods and pipes loaded on the truck fell off the vehicle. The freight had to be removed using hydra machines. The truck was also removed to the roadside while traffic had to be routed to the adjoining slip and service road.
