Udupi: Four persons, including the driver, were injured after a Mahindra Thar SUV reportedly went out of control and plunged into a roadside drain near B.C. Road at Bantakal on the Shirva–Katapady State Highway on Sunday, July 20.
The accident left all four occupants injured, with three of them reportedly sustaining serious injuries. They were shifted to a private hospital in Udupi for treatment.
Driver loses control of vehicle
According to preliminary information, the Mahindra Thar was travelling along the Shirva–Katapady State Highway when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle near B.C. Road at Bantakal.
The SUV veered off the road and crashed into a roadside drain, causing extensive damage to the vehicle. The impact left all four occupants trapped inside before local residents rushed to the spot to rescue them.
Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the accident.
Four occupants injured
The injured have been identified as Balakrishna (21) of Shirva, who was driving the SUV, and three co-passengers, including two young women.
All four suffered injuries in the accident, while three of them were reported to have sustained serious injuries. They were admitted to a private hospital in Udupi, where they are undergoing treatment.
Doctors are monitoring the condition of the injured, and further details regarding their health are awaited.
Locals and temple administrator come to the rescue
Residents living near the accident site responded immediately after hearing the crash and helped rescue the occupants from the damaged vehicle.
Among those who stopped to assist was Jayasheel Hegde, administrator of Sode Sri Subrahmanya Temple, who was travelling towards Kundapur at the time of the accident.
Recognising the seriousness of the injuries, he joined the rescue efforts and, with the assistance of K. R. Patkar, president of the Bantakal Nagarika Seva Samiti, shifted two of the injured to TMA Pai Hospital in Udupi in his own vehicle.
The remaining two injured were transported to the hospital in the Bantakal Nagarika Seva Samiti ambulance, which was driven by Virendra Patkar.
The timely intervention of passers-by and volunteers ensured that the injured received medical attention without delay.
Police begin investigation
Personnel from the Shirva Police Station visited the accident site soon after receiving information about the crash.
The officers conducted a spot inspection, documented the scene and initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Police are expected to examine factors such as the condition of the vehicle, road conditions and the circumstances leading to the driver losing control.
Further investigation is under way.