Pune, April 20 (Inditop) Nineteen people were killed and 15 injured when the truck they were travelling in turned turtle in Maharashtra’s Pune district early Monday, police said.

The victims were travelling from Kalyan to Sholapur in a truck carrying iron pipes.

At around 1 a.m., the vehicle skidded off the Pune-Sholapur highway and overturned near Yavat, around 70 km from here, since the driver was speeding.

“Many were crushed under the iron pipes. While 18 people were killed on the spot, one died later at the Yavat Civil Hospital,” investigating officer S.F. Chavan told IANS.

Seven women and eight children were among those killed in the accident.

Chavan said the truck driver was absconding.