BENGALURU: Three minors who went for a spin in their cars were racing each other as the roads were deserted in the wee hours. A police officer said the trio had gone to Electronics City for a joyride and were returning at high speed when the accident occurred near the Silk Board flyover at 3am on Sunday. They were driving at 150kmph at the time.
While one friend Arfan (17) died on the spot, the other two sustained minor injuries.
As the vehicles approached Silk Board, they lost control of their vehicles while descending from the flyover. Arfan crashed his Skoda into a barricade and it slid about 200 metres. Due to the impact, his head snapped from his body and his legs were stuck. A Toyota Innova, being driven by his friend, hit the median and jumped to the opposite lane. The Innova collided with a milk tanker and it toppled. The other friend who was driving a Suzuki S-Cross, rammed into the median before halting. The milk tanker driver disappeared from the scene and it is said that he was unhurt.
Senior police officials, who examined the accident spot, instructed the jurisdictional police to book the parents of the minors for negligence. Madiwala Traffic Police recorded their statements based on a complaint of an eyewitness.
Arfan’s father Saleem took his son’s body to Kerala where they hail from. The parents of the minors told the police that their sons had gone on such early morning drives with their schoolmates earlier as well. “But the parents did not warn them. The teenagers left their houses around 12.30am when their parents slept. The accident was captured on six CCTV cameras and we are verifying it. It is believed the trio were racing each other as the roads were deserted. The two minor boys and their fathers were arrested. Saleem is now in shock. We will take action against him later,” a police officer said.
No Lessons Learnt
June 11, 2017: A 16-year-old student was killed and two of his classmates were severely injured when they went for a ride on NICE Road in the early hours. Kengeri police later booked a woman, a neighbour, for giving the vehicle to the minors.
September 8, 2016 : Contractor Chandrashekar was arrested by Indiranagar traffic police for giving his bike to his 16-year- old son Kirtan. The boy was performing wheelie when the pillion rider Shiney Kiran died in an accident.
HC Ordered Strict Action In 2015
In 2015, the High Court had ordered the authorities concerned to make sure that parents of minor children driving two- or four-wheelers be booked.