A road accident on Monday claimed three lives and injured three others on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway near Venkatapur village in Dharwad district. The incident occurred when an SUV attempted a maneuver that resulted in the vehicle climbing a divider and rolling over.
The victims who died at the scene were Manjunath, 29, Vinayak, 27, and Basavaraj, 33, all residents of Harihar and employees of a catering firm in Dharwad. The driver, Basanagouda Patil, 26, of Hosa Yallapur village, along with two passengers, Manjappa K.R., 30, of Davangere, and Ajay Manjappa K.R., 26, sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment.
According to eyewitness accounts, the driver tried to overtake a truck traveling ahead. In the process, he lost control of the SUV, which surged onto the highway divider before overturning. The sudden loss of control left little time for occupants to react, leading to the fatalities and injuries reported.
Officers from the Garag Police Station arrived promptly, coordinated with local villagers to clear the wreckage, and reopened the highway to traffic. A formal case has been registered as authorities begin a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
