Udupi: A major mishap was averted on Saturday night after an excavator lorry went out of control near the Perampalli Fish Market, rammed into a transformer pole and electric poles before crashing into the courtyard of a house. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, although the accident caused damage to the house and disrupted power supply in the area.
The accident occurred at around 9 pm when the lorry was travelling from Manipal towards Perampalli. Police suspect the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, leading to the loss of control.
Lorry veers off road near Perampalli Fish Market
According to preliminary information, the excavator lorry was proceeding along the Manipal–Perampalli road when the driver reportedly lost control near the Perampalli Fish Market.
The heavy vehicle first crashed into a roadside transformer pole before hitting an adjacent electric pole. Unable to regain control, the lorry then veered off the road and entered the courtyard of a nearby residence.
The impact caused significant damage to the electrical infrastructure and the property, while the front portion of the lorry was also badly damaged.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident.
House sustains damage
The lorry crashed into the courtyard of a house belonging to Ravi Poojary, causing damage to part of the residential property.
The force of the collision damaged the cement sheet of the house, while debris from the impact was scattered around the premises.
Although the property suffered damage, no members of the family were injured as they were not in the affected area when the accident occurred.
The front section of the excavator lorry also sustained extensive damage in the collision.
Driver may have fallen asleep
Initial information suggests that the accident may have occurred after the driver allegedly fell asleep while driving.
However, officials are yet to confirm the exact cause, and further investigation will determine whether driver fatigue, mechanical failure or any other factor contributed to the crash.
Police are expected to record the driver’s statement and examine the vehicle as part of the investigation.
Major tragedy narrowly avoided
The incident could have resulted in serious casualties had there been pedestrians or residents outside the house at the time of the crash.
Fortunately, there were no people on the road or in the courtyard when the lorry lost control.
Residents described it as a narrow escape, as the heavy vehicle came to a halt only after crashing into the residential compound.
The absence of injuries prevented what could have been a major tragedy.
Power supply disrupted
The collision caused a transformer pole to snap, resulting in a power outage in the surrounding locality from Saturday night.
Electricity department personnel were informed immediately, and restoration work was initiated after the damaged infrastructure was inspected.
Residents in the affected area experienced disruption in power supply until repair work could be undertaken.
Lorry removed using cranes
The damaged excavator lorry remained at the accident site overnight because of its size and the extent of the damage.
On Sunday morning, two cranes were deployed to remove the heavy vehicle from the residential premises and clear the road.
Traffic movement in the area was managed while the recovery operation was carried out.
Authorities are continuing their inquiry into the incident to determine the precise circumstances that led to the accident.
Conclusion
The accident highlights the potential risks posed by heavy vehicles on public roads and the importance of alert driving, particularly during night-time journeys. While the incident caused property damage and disrupted electricity supply, the absence of injuries came as a major relief for local residents. Police are expected to complete their investigation after examining all relevant evidence.