Udupi: At least three persons were killed and six to eight others sustained serious injuries in a head-on collision between a private bus and a Tufan vehicle near Miyaru Kambala Cross in Karkala taluk of Udupi district on Friday afternoon, police said.
According to the police, the private bus, which was travelling from Dharmasthala towards Karkala, allegedly entered the wrong lane at high speed near Miyaru Kambala Cross and rammed into the cruiser car coming from the opposite direction.
The impact of the collision completely mangled the Tufan vehicle, trapping several passengers inside. Three occupants of the Tufan died on the spot, while the injured were rushed to the Karkala Government Hospital. Some of them were later shifted to Manipal Hospital for advanced treatment.
Police said the condition of a few of the injured remains critical.
Local residents and passersby rushed to the spot immediately after the accident and assisted in rescue operations. Traffic on the Miyaru road was disrupted for some time following the incident.
The accident occurred within the limits of the Karkala Town Police Station. Police have visited the spot and are conducting further investigation. Preliminary inquiry suggests negligence on the part of the bus driver, officials said.