Two killed as truck crashes into empty building

A sand-laden tipper truck ploughed into an abandoned building on National Highway-4 at Bodanahosahalli village near Hoskote in eastern Bengaluru, crushing two men sleeping in the building to death.

The accident occurred at about 3 am on Saturday. The victims were Manjappa (55) and Raghu (26), daily wage labourers living in Bodanahosahalli village, about 26 kilometres from here.

Police said the driver of the speeding tipper truck lost control while taking a turn at a sharp curve and crashed it into the abandoned building where Manjappa and Raghu were sleeping.

The duo, who were friends, found the building an ideal place to sleep since it allowed cool breeze. Both men died while the truck driver fled the spot.

The Thirumalashettahalli police rushed to the spot after neighbours reported the incident. “We had to use three cranes to remove the truck as it toppled over and triggered the building to collapse. We extricated the bodies from the debris only after removing the truck,” said a senior police officer.

Police registered a case of accidental death due to rash and negligent driving and booked the driver under IPC Section 304(A). Further investigations are underway.