Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 14: Three persons including drivers of two trucks were injured, one of them seriously, after two trucks got involved with a head-on collision at Bastipadpu near Hejamady, Padubidri on Monday April 13.

The accident occurred at a road curve where one-way traffic has been temporarily enforced to pave way for highway widening work. Muttu (55), driver of one of the trucks, suffered serious injuries, while Rajesh Gowda (32) from Beltangady, who was driving the insulator truck, and Nagesh alias Nagabhushan, who was travelling in this truck, escaped with injuries that were not too serious in nature.

It is said that the truck that was going towards Udupi from the opposite direction was driven recklessly and at high speed when its driver Muttu, suddenly lost control over the vehicle on account of slippery road conditions caused by untimely rain. His truck then hit the insulator truck moving towards Mangaluru from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. Front portions of both the vehicles were badly mangled in the incident.

The cooling unit of the insulator truck developed cracks, and crates containing fish were found to have scattered around on the road. After Muttu, who had got stuck among mangled steel, was brought out with great efforts by the locals, the injured were shifted to a private hospital in Mangaluru.

The trucks, which were stuck together due to the collision, were moved apart with the help of crane, to pave way for smooth traffic.

Padubidri police registered a case based on a complaint made by driver, Rajesh Gowda. Investigation is progressing.