Pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal

Bantwal, Dec 30: A bike rider lost his life in a collision involving a motorcycle and a car near the Punjalkatte primary health centre on the Bantwal–Beltangady national highway on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Imran, also known as S A Mohammed Taha (40), a resident of Kukkaje. He was working as a dish repair technician with Tata Company. On Monday, he was returning towards BC Road after attending to work-related duties when the accident occurred.

According to police, a Nano car driven by Prasanna, a police constable attached to the district DCRE unit, was proceeding from the Mangaluru side on official duty when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the motorcycle near the Heggadebettu house. Imran was thrown off the bike and sustained severe injuries. Though locals rushed him to Bantwal government hospital, doctors declared him brought dead.

Imran is survived by his wife and two young children. A native of Marnabail, he had recently built a house in Kukkaje. Punjalkatte police visited the spot and registered a case.

Meanwhile, videos circulated on social media alleging that a liquor bottle was found in the car and that the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. However, Punjalkatte police sub-inspector conducted an alcometer test on the accused, both in the presence of the deceased’s relatives and the woman who had shared the video and audio clips. The test did not confirm alcohol consumption. Police said that a blood test would also be conducted for further verification and that appropriate legal action would follow.

Locals alleged that the stretch of the highway where the accident occurred has sharp curves and has witnessed several mishaps in the past, blaming unscientific road design for frequent accidents.