Youth dies as wheelie goes awry, pillion rider flees

A 19-year-old man died while performing a wheelie on his motorbike at an underpass near BEL Circle, North Bengaluru, around 11.15 pm on Wednesday, police said.

Arun Kumar, of Deshbandhu Nagar in Doddabommasandra, lost control of the two-wheeler which went on to crash into a parapet that separates the BEL underpass and a service road leading towards Kuvempu Circle and Hebbal. Kumar, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, died from grievous injuries. An unidentified friend, who was on the pillion, abandoned him and fled the spot.

The Jalahalli traffic police rushed to the spot after being informed and took Kumar’s body to MS Ramaiah Hospital. Passersby are learnt to have confirmed to the police that Kumar failed to control the motorbike as the wheelie went awry.

Police could not identify the victim for more than 12 hours as there were no clues and no one came looking for him. Later, police learnt that he was living in Deshbandhu Nagar and that his parents are daily wage labourers. They are trying to trace the pillion rider to make him a witness. A case of unnatural death has been opened.