BANGALORE: A woman, said to have been drunk, lost control over the SUV she was driving and ran over a 24-year-old man and injured four others, who were sleeping on the footpath at HRBR Layout around 12.30 am on Monday.
The deceased has been identified as Nagaraj (24), a native of Kirubagere village in Devadurga taluk of Raichur. His relatives, Hanumantappa (23), Shivayogi (19), Lakshmana Gouda (23) and Rangappa (18), who were all injured, were treated at a hospital as out patients. They were working as labourers at a building under construction near the spot at 3rd A Main in Kalyannagar in Banaswadi traffic police station limits.
Police said that since the shed provided for them was too stuffy, the five men were sleeping on the footpath. After running over him, the speeding Toyota Fortuner (KA-03-MQ-1369) dragged Nagaraj for some distance before coming to a halt after ramming into the building wall.
“The woman escaped while the man, identified as Ravi, a realtor, accompanying her, was caught by locals. He then took the injured to the hospital in his SUV. But Nagaraj succumbed to his injuries in the wee hours,” the police said.
“Preliminary investigation has revealed that Ravi and his friend Mahi were returning to their home in Kothnur after attending a friend’s birthday party at a restaurant in Kammanahalli. Mahi, who took over the wheel from Ravi, lost control of the vehicle,” the police added. Banaswadi traffic police have registered cases under Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 304A (causing death by negligence) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others). The police are on the lookout for the woman.