Mangaluru: A hawk crashed into the front windscreen of a private bus near Haleyangady on the National Highway, shattering the glass and leaving the driver and several passengers with minor injuries.
The Lakshmi Ganesh non-stop bus was travelling from Mangaluru to Karkala when the bird struck the windscreen with considerable force. The impact shattered the glass, sending shards flying inside the vehicle.
Despite the sudden impact and glass fragments falling on him, the driver, Harish Poojary, a resident of Koorelu in Puttur, remained composed and managed to bring the bus under control.
His presence of mind helped avert a potentially serious accident on the busy highway. A momentary loss of control could have caused the bus to veer into the highway divider, putting the lives of passengers and other road users at risk.
The driver and some passengers reportedly sustained minor injuries in the incident. The incident caused alarm among those travelling on the bus, but the driver’s quick response helped prevent a major mishap.
Passengers appreciated Poojary for maintaining his composure and controlling the vehicle despite the sudden and unexpected impact.