Seven Killed, Two Injured in Tragic Highway Crash in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada

A leisure trip turned into a devastating tragedy in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district when a multi-utility vehicle (MUV) collided head-on with a lorry on National Highway-52 in the early hours of Thursday, leaving seven people dead and two others seriously injured , police said.

The accident occurred around 1.30 am near Balagara Cross in the Arabail Ghat stretch under the jurisdiction of the Yellapur Police Station. The MUV was carrying nine occupants, including the driver, and was travelling from Dharwad towards Dharmasthala and Chikkamagaluru on a recreational trip.

According to the police, the vehicle allegedly crossed onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into an oncoming lorry travelling from Ankola . The impact was so severe that the MUV was left completely mangled, trapping several occupants inside.

Local residents and emergency responders rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital. They were later referred to Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Hubballi, where they are undergoing treatment.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver, identified as Sanjeev , may have been driving at a high speed in a rash and negligent manner before the collision occurred. Police said he worked as a part-time delivery executive with a food delivery platform.

Yellapur police conducted a spot inspection, recovered the bodies, and sent them for post-mortem examination. Based on a complaint filed by one of the injured survivors, Shivaraj , a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to rash and negligent driving, causing grievous hurt, and causing death by negligence.

Further investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident is underway.