Pillion rider falls off bike at Hulimavu, dies

A 30-year-old pillion rider died after a fatal fall from a bike near Big Bazar in Vijaya Bank Colony under Hulimavu traffic police limits in the early hours of Saturday.

The deceased has been identified as Santosh (in pic), a businessman from Gadag and a resident of Chamundeshwari Nagar near Begur. He owned a unit where gas is filled into fire extinguishers, police said.

The accident occurred around 5.30 am when Santosh was riding pillion on his friend’s bike. Devendra, the victim’s friend, was riding the bike to a nearby hospital to admit Santosh for lumbar pain. Santosh was on medication for the last few months and the pain aggravated in the early hours of Saturday. He called up Devendra around 4.30 am and requested him to take him to a nearby hospital.

The victim’s relatives told the police that Santosh requested Devendra to park the bike as he could no longer bear the pain and wanted to sit down for a while. Devendra applied brakes suddenly and slowed down the bike. Santosh lost balance, fell down and suffered severe head injuries as his head crashed against the ground. He started bleeding profusely. Devendra, with the help of the public, rushed him to the hospital where he was declared brought dead, police said.

“There are conflicting theories on what triggered the accident. A few local residents claimed that the stretch has too many potholes and pits. The pillion rider lost balance and fell down as the rider was trying to negotiate a pit. However, the police claimed that they are yet to ascertain what led to the accident,” said a senior police officer. “Local residents have claimed that the pot-hole triggered the accident. An investigation will reveal the truth,” said a police officer.

Santosh was thrown up in the air and fell down as the bike’s wheels suddenly landed in a pit. His relative Somashekar told Deccan Herald that Devendra was about to park the bike when Santosh fell down.  The officer said, “We have to reconstruct and analyse the incident and also take Devendra’s statement, as he is not in a position to speak.”