Mangaluru, 15 Nov

A tragic chain collision involving two tankers, an autorickshaw, and an SUV resulted in the deaths of three individuals in Karnataka on Saturday. The incident occurred around 11.15am at Panambur junction after a cow unexpectedly crossed the road, prompting a gas tanker travelling from Mulki to halt abruptly.

The preliminary investigations revealed that the autorickshaw managed to stop in time, as did the SUV behind it. However, a third tanker, approaching from the rear at high speed, failed to brake and collided with the SUV. The force of the impact pushed the SUV to the side of the road, crushing the autorickshaw between the two tankers.

The driver of the autorickshaw and two passengers died instantly, while authorities are working to confirm their identities. Police noted that visibility was clear and traffic was moderate at the time. Investigators are looking into whether excessive speed or brake failure caused the collision. Traffic on the busy Mangaluru-Udupi highway was disrupted for an hour as cranes cleared the wreckage.