PMC dumper mows down graphic designer

A 25-year-old graphic designer working with a multinational company in Pune died after the bike he was riding was hit a by speeding garbage container of the Pune Municipal Corporation near Sarasbaug on Friday morning.

Police said Tushar Sawade was wearing a helmet but sustained head injuries after the helmet cracked due to the impact.

Swargate police said Sawade was on his way to work when the accident took place. Our primary inquiry has revealed that the accident took place immediately after the signal at the Sawarkar Square turned green. We have come to know that the garbage container hit him from behind after which he fell down and was run over by it, said sub-inspector with Swargate police and the investigating officer for the case B T Patil. Sawade was unmarried and is survived by his parents and four sisters.

Driver of the container Yogesh Memane (24) of Kunjirwadi in Haveli was arrested by police after the accident. The impact of the accident was so severe that the helmet broke down and the victim sustained head injuries that caused his death. His body was handed over to his relatives after the post mortem, said Patil.

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Deepak Bhaskar,a manager with the administration department with Aptara New Media Pvt Ltd where the deceased worked as an illustrator,said,The accident has come as a major shock to our staff. He was working as a graphic designer with us since last three months. He had done a diploma in graphic designing from Shivaji College of Fine Arts in Amravati and was from Yavatmal. He was an asset to the organisation.

Bhaskar added,As colleagues we feel that some strong action must be taken against the rash drivers of garbage dumper and against officers who allow such drivers to continue.

Deputy municipal commissioner (solid waste management) with PMC Suresh Jagtap said,We have suspended the driver. The police investigation will throw light on who exactly was at fault. After a similar accident near Pirangut,we had put strict limitations on the speed of garbage containers. We will once again issue guidelines for the same.

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