Mangalore: Helmet saves rider after bus knocks him down, locals catch driver

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NM)

Mangalore, Jul 18: If you thought you needed to wear helmet only to escape penalty from traffic police, think again. In an accident that took place on Thursday July 18 evening, it was perhaps due to the helmet alone that a rider could save his head, literally.

A person riding a brand new Honda Activa was thrown on to the road after a speeding bus tried to overtake it near Yekkur on Thursday. Despite the hard knock from the bus, the rider suffered injury only on his leg. If it wasn't for his helmet, the injury would have been far worse.

The express service bus ‘Haddadiya’ (KA19 D 5986) was plying from State Bank to Vittal.

The rider was immediately rushed to Omega Hospital, Pumpwell. The bus driver, who lost control, drove on to the divider. Luckily, no passenger was hurt.

That is not all. The bus driver Umar Sallathur reportedly fled from the scene and was chased by the locals. He was caught at the playground in Yekkur. Arguments arose and Umar insisted that the rider had suddenly taken a left and he was helpless. "I have been driving on this route for the past 13 years," he said.

When another group angrily demanded from the bus driver why he had fled from the scene, the driver had no answer, but later he meekly replied, "I am fasting". One of the persons assembled there even slapped the driver, an eyewitness said.

Even after nearly 30 minutes after the incident, the police did not arrive at the spot.