Karnataka bus driver recounts attempt to avoid collision with speeding truck

Chitradurga, December 25. The driver of the bus involved in a collision with a truck in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka stated that he attempted to control his vehicle upon seeing the speeding truck approaching from the opposite direction but was unsuccessful. A senior police official confirmed that a speeding container truck collided with a private bus near Hiriyur around 2 AM on Wednesday, causing the bus to catch fire and resulting in the death of at least five people.

The bus driver, identified as Rafiq, sustained injuries in the accident and is currently undergoing treatment. Describing the incident, he explained that the truck crossed the divider and crashed into the oncoming bus. He noted that the truck was moving at a very high speed while he was driving at approximately sixty to seventy kilometers per hour. He recalled seeing the vehicle approaching and trying to maneuver the bus, which also grazed another vehicle passing alongside, but he ultimately lost control. He added that he only remembers the impact and is unaware of what transpired afterward or how he was rescued, as per agency report.

The bus conductor, Mohammed Sadiq, who suffered minor injuries and is also receiving medical attention, stated that the collision was so severe that he was thrown out of the vehicle. He mentioned that the oncoming truck struck the bus while he was sleeping in the front section. The impact shattered the windshield, causing him to fall out of the bus.

Regarding the casualties, the police initially cited a preliminary investigation suggesting that nine people had died in the accident, but they later issued a confirmation stating that the death toll stood at five.