A 25-year-old animation student was killed in a hit-and-run accident in the early morning hours of Sunday at Aravinda Circle, J.P. Nagar. Efforts to identify the vehicle that knocked him down have yielded little results.
Though the deceased R. Sandeep's father, industrialist Ravi R., wanted to donate all his organs, it was not possible as he had suffered some crush injuries during the accident. However, the family donated his two eyes at the Dr. Malathi Manipal Hospital in Jayanagar. “It’s a very untimely death and he went before his time. So we thought, that his eyes would see the world,” said an emotional father Ravi.
Sandeep was doing a course in animation at a private institute residing with his family in Jayanagar III Block, while his younger sister is studying medicine in United States of America.
On Saturday night, Sandeep had been to a friend's place nearby for a night long party. At around 4:20 am, when Sandeep was returning home from his bike, a speeding SUV, now identified as a white Qualis, came from a perpendicular road and rammed into his bike. Sandeep fell onto his left due to the impact of the collision and banged his head onto the road pavement, sustaining a severe head injury. Though he was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital, he was declared brought dead. Police sources said that he was probably killed on the spot.
“Sandeep had not been wearing a helmet and was also drunk when the accident occurred,” said Rama Ratna Kumar, a senior traffic cop in the area. Autopsy on the body was conducted at Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences and handed over to the family.
Senthil, a close family friend and neighhbour said that he had met Sandeep on Saturday evening and had even discussed plans for his career, after he completion of the animation course he was doing. “He was down to earth. Its unbelievable to know he is dead in a matter of hours since I spoke to him,” he said.
Traffic surveillance camera dysfunctional
A dysfunctional traffic surveillance camera near the accident spot, has hindered the probe into the case.
Senthil, a close family friend of the deceased Sandeep, said that the traffic cops informed them that the surveillance camera at the spot was not working and hence they couldnt identify the vehicle that hit Sandeep.
S. Girish, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic – West) told The Hindu that, “The camera at the particular junction may have developed a technical snag. But there are three more cameras in the area, which are perfectly functional. We have recovered the footage and it clearly shows a white colour Qualis vehicle being involved in the accident. However, we are trying our best to zero in on the vehicle registration number,” he said.
