Pune Road Rage: 3-Year-Old Dies in Hospital; Death Toll Rises to Two in Kharadi Thar Hit-and-Run

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Kharadi, 3rd June 2026: The death toll in the Kharadi hit-and-run case has risen to two after a three-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a private hospital late Tuesday night.

The deceased child, Deepraj Tushar Kolhe, had sustained critical injuries in a high-impact collision involving a speeding Mahindra Thar SUV and a motorcycle on Sunday night. The crash had earlier claimed the life of 35-year-old Pawan Pandurang Barkhe.

According to FIR registered at Kharadi Police Station, the accident occurred at around 10:30 pm on May 31 on Grand Road, opposite Samarth Nagar Lane No. 3 in Kharadi.

Head-On Collision on Wrong Side

Police said Pawan Barkhe, a resident of Sai Satyam Park in Wagholi, was riding a black Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle (MH-12-QS-9937) along with Priya Tushar Kolhe (32) and her three-year-old son Deepraj. The trio was travelling from Ganga Corner (Zensar Naka) towards Ganga IT Park.

A red Mahindra Thar SUV bearing temporary registration number MH-12-TD-0086 allegedly came from the opposite direction at high speed while driving on the wrong side of the road and crashed head-on into the motorcycle.

The impact threw all three riders onto the road. Barkhe suffered severe head injuries and was found unconscious near the footpath. Priya Kolhe and her son were also critically injured and bleeding at the scene.

Driver Allegedly Removed Number Plates Before Fleeing

According to the FIR, the SUV driver, identified as Prasad More of Wagholi, allegedly got out of the vehicle after the crash and removed both the front and rear number plates in an apparent attempt to conceal the vehicle’s identity.

Instead of assisting the injured victims or informing authorities, he allegedly abandoned the SUV and fled the scene.

Police Rush Victims to Hospital

Police Constable Amol Baban Jadhav, who was on Beat Marshal duty in the Ubale Nagar area, received information about the accident from the Pune City Police Control Room at around 10:41 pm.

Jadhav, along with Constable Mule and local residents, shifted the victims to Manipal Hospital for emergency treatment.

Barkhe was subsequently referred to Sassoon General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead before treatment could begin. Priya Kolhe remains under treatment and is reported to be in critical condition.

After battling for life for nearly two days, Deepraj Kolhe succumbed to his injuries late on June 2.

Investigation Underway, Accused Still Absconding

Police traced the offending vehicle through its chassis number, MA1UJ4YC2L2M15347, with the assistance of traffic officials to establish ownership and registration details.

A case has been registered against accused driver Prasad More under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, including rash and negligent driving, causing death by negligence, destruction of evidence, dangerous driving, and fleeing the scene of an accident.

Following the death of the three-year-old child, police are updating the charges to reflect the second fatality. A team has been deployed to trace and arrest the absconding accused.

The investigation is being conducted by Sub-Inspector Rahul Khandu Kolape of Kharadi Police Station under the supervision of senior officers.