Udupi: A car driver allegedly assaulted a scooter rider and his wife after colliding with their vehicle near Chitaranjan Circle in Udupi city on the morning of March 12, triggering public outrage at the scene.
According to preliminary information, the car was reportedly moving at high speed when it struck the scooter carrying the couple. The impact caused both the rider and his wife to fall onto the road.
Instead of assisting the injured victims after the accident, the driver allegedly got out of the vehicle and attacked the scooter rider, leading to a heated confrontation at the spot.
Collision leads to roadside altercation
Witnesses said the accident occurred near the busy Chitaranjan Circle area during the morning hours, when traffic movement was relatively high.
The scooter rider and his wife were travelling through the junction when the speeding car allegedly hit their vehicle. The force of the collision caused them to lose balance and fall on the road.
Rather than helping the injured couple or checking on their condition, the driver reportedly confronted the rider and began assaulting him, which shocked bystanders nearby.
Driver allegedly attacks woman
The situation escalated further when the rider’s wife attempted to record the incident on her mobile phone.
Police sources said the driver allegedly became angry when he noticed that she was filming the incident. He then reportedly assaulted her as well and attempted to escape from the scene in his car.
However, the woman resisted the attempt by standing in front of the vehicle, preventing the driver from leaving the spot.
Public intervenes
Her act drew the attention of people nearby, who quickly gathered at the scene.
Members of the public confronted the driver and expressed strong anger over his behaviour. Witnesses said the crowd demanded that the driver be held accountable for both the accident and the alleged assault.
The presence of a crowd prevented the driver from fleeing the scene until the police arrived.
Police take driver into custody
Personnel from the Udupi Town police station reached the location shortly after receiving information about the incident.
Police officers intervened to calm the situation and took the driver into custody for questioning.
Authorities said further investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events, including the circumstances that led to the accident and the alleged assault.
Investigation underway
Police are expected to record statements from the scooter rider, his wife, witnesses and the driver as part of the investigation.
Officials said appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns about reckless driving and road rage incidents in busy urban areas.