Bantwal: The death toll in the tipper truck-scooter collision at N G Circle in B C Road has risen to two after critically injured scooter rider Dayananda succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in Mangaluru.
The accident occurred at around 6.30 pm on Thursday, August 6, when Dayananda and pillion rider Yashwanth Kulal were travelling from Mangaluru towards Dharmasthala on a scooter bearing registration number KA-70-H-5059.
According to police, the scooter was involved in a collision with a tipper truck bearing registration number KA-19-AF-8073 at N G Circle.
Tipper allegedly driven at high speed
The tipper truck was being driven by 33-year-old Salman Farooq, a resident of Pallamajalu in Bantwal. Police said the truck was travelling from Kalladka towards Loretto when the accident occurred.
Preliminary information indicates that the tipper was allegedly being driven recklessly and at high speed before it rammed into the scooter at the junction.
The impact left both the scooter occupants with grievous injuries. Local residents and others at the scene assisted in shifting the injured men for emergency medical treatment.
The circumstances surrounding the collision are now being examined as part of the police investigation.
Pillion rider dies after admission
Following the crash, Dayananda and Yashwanth Kulal were rushed to the District Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru for treatment.
Yashwanth Kulal was declared dead shortly after being admitted to the hospital. His death was reported soon after the accident, turning the crash into a fatal road accident.
Dayananda was in critical condition and was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite receiving treatment, he succumbed to his injuries later in the night.
With Dayananda’s death, the accident has claimed the lives of both occupants of the scooter.
Driver taken into custody
The Bantwal Traffic police have taken the tipper truck driver into custody following the accident.
A case has been registered against Salman Farooq under Sections 281, 125(a) and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in Crime No. 99/2026.
The sections invoked relate to offences concerning rash or negligent driving and the consequences arising from such conduct.
Police are continuing their investigation to establish the exact sequence of events leading to the collision. Details such as the speed of the vehicles, road conditions and other circumstances surrounding the crash are expected to form part of the investigation.
Fatal collision raises road safety concerns
The fatal crash at N G Circle has once again highlighted the risks faced by two-wheeler riders on busy roads in Bantwal and along routes connecting Mangaluru with the interior parts of Dakshina Kannada.
Junctions such as N G Circle witness the movement of heavy vehicles as well as two-wheelers and other passenger vehicles. Reckless or high-speed driving at such locations can have severe consequences, particularly for riders of smaller vehicles.
The deaths of both scooter occupants in the same accident underline the vulnerability of two-wheeler users when involved in collisions with heavy commercial vehicles.
Police have continued to stress the importance of responsible driving, adherence to speed limits and caution at busy junctions. Heavy vehicle drivers, in particular, need to exercise additional care while approaching intersections and areas with substantial two-wheeler movement.
The investigation into the B C Road accident remains underway, while the authorities are completing the necessary legal procedures in connection with the deaths.