A 20-year-old man lost his life in a road accident on National Highway 66 near Hejmadi Old NBC Road on Friday afternoon when a speeding express bus from Mangaluru to Karkala collided with his scooter.
The victim, identified as Tushar from Kodi Manampady in Hejmadi, is survived by his mother and three brothers. Police reported that the accident occurred as Tushar, who was on duty, attempted to cross the highway from the Hejmadi inner road toll gate toward Mulki. The express bus, approaching at high speed, struck his two-wheeler, trapping it under the vehicle’s front section.
Tushar sustained severe head and chest injuries in the crash. The Hejmadi toll ambulance rushed him to a private hospital in Mukka, where doctors made efforts to save him. However, he succumbed to his injuries later in the evening.
Employed with Project India Company at the New Mangalore Port, Tushar was described as a hardworking young man whose untimely death has devastated his family. Neighbours and friends have expressed shock over the tragedy, citing the need for stricter speed regulation on the busy highway stretch.
Authorities have registered a case at the Padubidri Police Station, and investigations are underway. Police are examining the circumstances leading to the accident, including possible overspeeding and negligence by the bus driver.
The incident has once again highlighted safety concerns on NH-66, where high-speed traffic and inadequate pedestrian crossings often pose serious risks to commuters