4 Killed in Ambulance Crash in Karnataka

In an incident reported from Karnataka, an ambulance carrying a patient and three attendants lost control and crashed into a toll booth in Udupi district

In a heart-wrenching incident which has been reported from Karnataka, an ambulance carrying a patient and two attendants lost control and crashed into a toll booth in Karnataka's Udupi district on Wednesday 20th July.

The accident which was caught on camera killed four people inside the ambulance including the patient. The Ambulance driver was injured and is undergoing treatment, the police said. The accident took place around 4.30 pm at the Shirur toll plaza. A CCTV camera at the toll plaza shows the horrific accident on a wet road. 

The roads were wet as it was raining in  Karnataka’s Udupi district, in the footage, some men who appear to be security guards and toll plaza operators are seen running to remove three plastic barricades from one of the lanes on seeing the speeding ambulance approaching the toll plaza.

The footage shows one of the guards successfully removing two barricades before the toll plaza. But the last barricade remained in place, which a man later manages to pull out, but not completely. Suddenly, the speeding ambulance which was a large van was seen skidding on the wet road and went out of control towards the toll booth cabin.

The video clearly shows the ambulance had aquaplaned on the wet road after the tyres lost traction, Aquaplaning happens after the tyres are overused and they lose their ability to hold a proper grip on the road in the case when the roads are wet due to rains or any other reason.

Among the dead was Gajananth the 45-year-old patient who was being carried in the ambulance. He was being taken from Bhatkal to Udupi. Three paramedics – Jyothi, Lokesh and Manju – who too were in the vehicle, were also killed in the accident, however, No toll booth employee lost their lives in the accident and a few had faced just minor injuries.

What do you think about this heart-wrenching video which has gone viral on social media? Do mention your thoughts in the comment section below.

Advertisement