5 dead, 4 injured after goods vehicle collides with van near Koppal village

KOPPAL: Five people died and four others sustained injuries after a goods vehicle collided with their Maruti Omni van on National Highway 63 near Bhanapura in Kukanur taluk around midnight on Saturday. The occupants of the van were headed to Mantralayam for darshan Guru Raghavendra Swami.

The goods vehicle lost control after one of its tyres burst, jumped the road divider and collided with the oncoming Maruti Omni. Due to the impact, the van was completely mangled. Van driver Ramesh and Kenchamma Kotyala died on the spot, while the other three succumbed to injuries at the hospital despite treatment. Four others sustained serious injuries and treatment is ongoing at the hospital.

The victims of the accident have been identified as residents of Hire Kabbar village in Rattihalli taluk, Haveri district. The deceased are Kenchamma Balekai (35), Praveen Balekai (40), child Chinmay, Amruta Kotyala (25) and Ramesh Ballari (45). The injured four are admitted to Koppal district hospital for treatment, Police Superintendent Ram L Arasiddi said after visiting them.

On receiving information about the accident, the Kukanur police rushed to the spot, conducted an inspection, and registered a case.