BENGALURU : A tragic late-night accident in Bengaluru’s Shantinagar Double Road area has once again raised serious concerns over reckless ambulance driving in the city.
According to eyewitnesses, a speeding ambulance belonging to Cloudnine Hospital rammed into three stationary bikes at the Sangeetha Signal Junction near Richmond Circle on Friday night, killing two people on the spot and injuring others.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
Around midnight, the Cloudnine ambulance was reportedly speeding down from Richmond Circle towards Shantinagar. Despite the red light at the Sangeetha signal, the driver failed to slow down and ploughed into three motorcycles waiting at the junction.
The impact was so severe that the bikes and riders were dragged nearly 200 metres before the ambulance finally crashed into a police booth and signal control unit nearby.
Reckless Driving Without Patient Onboard
Initial police reports confirm that the ambulance was not carrying any patient at the time of the accident.
However, the driver had switched on the siren and was driving at extremely high speed, in blatant violation of traffic norms.
“Even after seeing the red signal, he didn’t apply brakes. He was driving as if it was an emergency,” said a local eyewitness, adding that this is the second such ambulance-related accident in the same area this year.
Public Anger Erupts at Crash Site
The horrifying visuals triggered outrage among locals, who gathered in large numbers and protested against the negligence. Furious residents overturned the ambulance in anger, accusing the driver of endangering innocent lives under the guise of medical urgency.
“This isn’t the first time. These drivers switch on sirens even when there’s no patient, just to bypass traffic. Today, two innocent lives were lost because of one man’s arrogance,” said a protester.
Police Take Driver Into Custody
The Bengaluru Traffic Police have taken the ambulance driver into custody and are examining CCTV footage to determine the exact sequence of events.
Senior officers from Ashok Nagar Traffic Police Station visited the site, and the damaged signal unit and police outpost have been cordoned off for forensic examination.
A case of rash and negligent driving causing death has been registered under the Indian Penal Code.
Public Outcry Over Rising Ambulance Recklessness
The incident has reignited debate over the misuse of ambulance sirens and reckless driving by private hospital ambulance operators in Bengaluru.
Traffic experts have urged the government to regulate hospital ambulance fleets, install GPS tracking systems, and penalize fake emergency drives that endanger public safety.
View:
A city known for its traffic chaos now mourns another tragic road mishap — this time caused by an ambulance that had no patient inside. The Shantinagar crash has once again exposed Bengaluru’s growing problem of reckless emergency vehicle misuse, demanding immediate government intervention to ensure accountability and safer roads.
About the Author
