Karnataka bus accident: Hiriyur Rural police register FIR against truck driver

The Hiriyur Rural police have registered an FIR against the driver of the container truck on the charge of causing death by rash and negligent driving. Several persons died when the truck jumped the divider and hit an oncoming private sleeper bus in Chitradurga district in Karnataka on December 25

The truck, which belonged to a Haryana-based transport firm, was carrying beverages from Supa in Maharashtra to Nelamangala near Bengaluru. Kuldeep, a native of Uttar Pradesh, was driving the truck. He died in the accident.

The FIR does not name either the accused or the victims. The police are ascertaining the names of the passengers who died.

The police booked the case based on the statement of Sachin, the driver of the private bus carrying schoolchildren. He is a witness to the accident as his bus was behind the sleeper bus. The private school bus, driven by Sachin, was also damaged in the accident.

The police suspect that Kuldeep may have dozed off, lost control of the vehicle and crossed over the road divider.

There were two road diversions due to ongoing flyover work within eight kilometres of the accident spot.

Pradeep, a taxi driver, who travels on the highway regularly, pointed out that the chances of a truck driver dozing off on the stretch were rare. Kuldeep would have taken at least two diversions to the service road within a short distance before crossing over the divider and hitting the oncoming sleeper bus.