A tragic accident on the Hoskote-Dabaspete National Highway in Bengaluru Rural district claimed seven lives early Friday, including six school students and a motorcyclist. The incident occurred when a speeding Mahindra XUV 700, carrying the students on a pre-dawn joyride, collided with a motorcycle and subsequently a Canter truck.
The victims, aged between 17 and 18, included Ashwin Nayar, Arhaan Sharif, Ayaan Ali, Bharat, and Ethan George. The sixth student remains unnamed, while the motorcyclist, Gagan, a private company employee, was returning home from his night shift when he was struck. Gagan’s family shared the heartbreaking loss, noting he was the sole breadwinner for his visually impaired mother.
According to police, the students left home around 3 am without informing their families. Traveling from Kolar toward Devanahalli, the speeding SUV first rear-ended Gagan's motorcycle. Losing control, the vehicle then rammed into a Canter truck, flinging both the bike and truck across the median, while the SUV skidded nearly 500 metres before stopping.
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Families of the victims described the devastating scene at Hoskote government hospital, with parents initially told their children were seriously injured. Many were in shock, as some students, like Arhaan Sharif, reportedly did not even know how to drive, raising questions about the joyride and supervision.
Authorities, including IGP Labhu Ram and Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police Chandrakant, visited the site to oversee the investigation. Preliminary reports indicate overspeeding as the primary cause, while police are also probing if the driver was under the influence of alcohol.
The Sulibele police have launched a full investigation into the incident, and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examinations. The tragic crash has left families and the community mourning, highlighting concerns over road safety and unsupervised driving among youth.
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