Bengaluru: A rashly driven water tanker toppled on the busy Gunjur main road in Varthur under Whitefield traffic limits on Monday afternoon. Its driver, Mahalingappa, and his assistant, Kumar, sustained injuries in the accident that occurred at 12.45pm.
Fortunately, there were a few vehicles at the time of the accident on the Gunjur main road, which is otherwise a busy stretch. The accident was recorded on a camera fitted to the back of a vehicle and went viral on social media within hours. Many netizens expressed concern over rash driving by water tankers.
An investigating police officer said they have sent driver Mahalingappa’s blood samples for testing to ascertain if he was under the influence of alcohol. “Mahalingappa claims that the brakes of his vehicle failed, and he hit the pavement while trying to control the vehicle, which toppled. Though there were vehicles (a tanker and an SUV) in front of Mahalingappa’s tanker, nothing happened to them,” an investigating officer said. Mahalingappa was driving back the empty vehicle to his Munnekolalu residence for lunch, a senior police officer said.
The officer said they have booked drivers of water tankers indulging in rash and negligent driving.