Kamal Ghorui
BENGALURU: At least seven people were killed in a high-speed collision near M Satyawara village in Hoskote taluk of Bengaluru Rural district in the early hours of Friday, police said. The crash occurred between 5.15am and 5.30am on the Dobbaspet–Hoskote Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) stretch between M Sathyawara and Kambalipura Gate. Two SUVs, a canter truck and a motorcycle were involved.
All the vehicles were heading towards Devanahalli from Hoskote. Police alleged that a Mahindra XUV 700, driven at high speed, first struck a motorcycle before ramming into a canter truck.The biker who died in the accident has been identified as 26-year-old Gagan, who worked at a private firm and was returning home after finishing his night shift. All six travelling in the SUV were students of the same college and were on a joyride.The deceased have been identified as Bharath, 18, a resident of Frazer Town; Ashwin Nair, 17, a resident of Kothanur; Ethan George, Arhan Sharif, and another student named Bharath. The identity of one more student is yet to be ascertained.The impact broke the truck’s rear axle, causing it to topple onto the service road after crashing into the barrier. The Mahindra SUV was left mangled beyond recognition.Another SUV, a Maruti Brezza travelling behind, also met with an accident after hitting the truck’s axle, which was lying on the STRR. The motorcyclist was flung into the air and died on the spot. Six occupants travelling in the XUV 700, including students, also died instantly. The occupants of the second SUV and the truck driver sustained injuries but are said to be out of danger.Witnesses and commuters alerted police and attempted rescue efforts. The victims from the XUV 700 were shifted to MVJ Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead.Officers from Sulibele police station and senior officials inspected the scene and collected evidence. The identities of the deceased are yet to be established.Traffic on the stretch was disrupted for more than an hour as cranes were deployed to clear the damaged vehicles and restore normal movement. Sulibele police have registered a case and are continuing the investigation.
