In a grievous mishap on Bangalore-Mangalore highway (NH-48), two persons from Hyderabad died on the spot and three others were injured in the wee hours of Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Suresh Singh (48) and Pawan Singh (30). Their relatives Anasuya, Reeba Singh and eight-year-old girl Dhatri had been shifted to a hospital in Bangalore. The fire brigade personnel rescued another girl, Prema, who got stuck in the car.
The driver of the car Girish managed to escape and flee the scene. The victims had hired a Qualis car from a private travel agency at Ullal satellite city near Bangalore and had been returning after a pilgrimage in Dakshina Kannada and Chickmagalur districts.
Around 2 a.m., the car crashed into a lorry laden with tender coconuts and bound to Bangalore. The traffic on the highway was disrupted for several hours due to the mishap. The Kunigal police team, led by CI Dharmendra, reached the place and took up rescue operations. Police booked the car driver on charges of rash and negligent driving.