Fifteen people, including three members of a single family, lost their lives early Friday morning when a van collided with a parked truck in Haveri district, Karnataka. Two others were injured in the accident, according to police officials. The collision occurred near Gundenahalli Cross in Byadagi Taluk on National Highway 4 at around 3:30 AM.Police suspect the van driver, travelling at high speed, fell asleep at the wheel. A preliminary probe suggests the driver, Aadarsh, had been driving continuously for over 13 hours without rest, stated Haveri Superintendent of Police (SP) Anshu Kumar. The van was also travelling at high speed, which contributed to the severity of the accident.Details of the AccidentThe van, carrying 17 passengers visiting pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra and Karnataka, rammed into the rear of a stationary truck. Thirteen passengers died instantly, while two others succumbed to their injuries at Haveri Government Hospital. The bodies were trapped in the mangled remains of the van, and it was a challenging task for the fire brigade and police to extricate them, added Kumar.Legal Actions and InvestigationsA case has been registered against the truck driver for illegally parking on the highway. We have taken the truck driver into custody, said Kumar. One of the injured passengers, 24-year-old Arpita, revealed that the driver had not slept for over 24 hours, which likely led to the tragic accident. Aadarsh, the 23-year-old driver, had recently purchased the van with a bank loan. His cousin, Sumanth, explained, His father, Nagesh, and mother, Vishalakshi, an Anganwadi worker, had just bought the van. The family, along with friends and relatives, was on a pilgrimage. Tragically, all three family members died in the accident.Condolences and CompensationPresident Droupadi Murmu extended her condolences to the victims families. It is saddening to learn of the death of several pilgrims, including women and children, in this accident in Karnatakas Haveri district. I offer my condolences to the families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured, her office posted on X.It is saddening to learn of the death of several pilgrims including women and children in a bus accident in Karnatakas Haveri district. I offer my condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 28, 2024Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh for the kin of each deceased victim. I pray that the souls of the deceased rest in peace and that their families find the strength to bear this loss, he wrote.Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, MP Basavaraj Bommai, and BJP state president MP Vijayendra also expressed their condolences to the bereaved families.
