Belagavi road accident: Couple, infant killed as wrong-side auto hits bike
Synopsis
A young couple and their six-month-old son were wiped out in seconds on a Karnataka highway when a goods auto allegedly drove into them head-on. The driver fled. A fourth child from the same family is fighting for life — the latest in a string of fatal wrong-side driving incidents across Karnataka this month.
Key Takeaways
Mahanthesh Mane (27) , Sakshi Mane (23) , and their six-month-old son Samarth were killed near Raybag, Belagavi on 26 May 2025 .
A goods auto allegedly travelling on the wrong side at high speed struck their motorcycle head-on.
A fourth family member — another child — sustained critical injuries and is hospitalised.
The auto driver abandoned the vehicle and fled; police have registered a case and are searching for him.
The incident follows at least two other fatal Karnataka road accidents in recent weeks, including a 5-person crash in Kalaburagi and a 7-person fatality in Yadgir.
Three members of a family — including a six-month-old infant — were killed near Raybag town in Karnataka's Belagavi district on Tuesday morning, 26 May, after a goods auto allegedly travelling on the wrong side of the road struck their motorcycle head-on. A fourth family member, another child, sustained critical injuries and remains hospitalised.
Who the victims were
The deceased have been identified as Mahanthesh Mane (27), his wife Sakshi Mane (23), and their six-month-old son Samarth, all residents of Bommanal village in Raybag taluk. The family was riding together on a single motorcycle when the collision occurred on the outskirts of Raybag. All three died at the spot due to severe injuries and heavy blood loss, according to police.
How the accident happened
According to police, the family was en route from Bommanal village to Raybag town when a goods auto coming from the opposite direction — reportedly at high speed and on the wrong side of the road — crashed head-on into their bike. The force of the impact threw the couple and the infant onto the road. The auto driver allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene immediately after the crash.
Police response and investigation
Personnel from the Raybag police station rushed to the spot after receiving information and conducted an on-site inspection. A case has been registered, and efforts are underway to trace the absconding driver. The injured child has been admitted to hospital and is reported to be in a critical condition.
Pattern of fatal road accidents in Karnataka
This tragedy comes amid a troubling pattern of fatal road accidents across Karnataka. At least five people lost their lives last Saturday when a cruiser vehicle collided with a lorry near Ladlapur in Kalaburagi district. Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police A. Srinivasulu visited that accident site to assess the circumstances of the crash. Separately, last month in Yadgir district, seven people from the same family — residents of Sirwar taluk in Raichur district — were killed and two children injured when a car rammed into a bus. Notably, wrong-side driving and speeding remain among the leading causes of highway fatalities in Karnataka, according to state road safety data.
Point of View
Yet enforcement of lane discipline on state and district highways remains visibly thin. The absconding driver pattern is also recurring: when perpetrators routinely flee and cases drag on, deterrence erodes. The state's road safety authority needs to answer not just for this crash but for why wrong-side driving on these routes persists without meaningful penalty.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the victims of the Belagavi road accident on 26 May 2025?
The victims were Mahanthesh Mane (27), his wife Sakshi Mane (23), and their six-month-old son Samarth, all residents of Bommanal village in Raybag taluk, Belagavi district. All three died at the scene; a fourth family member, another child, was critically injured.
What caused the Raybag road accident?
According to police, a goods auto allegedly travelling on the wrong side of the road at high speed crashed head-on into the family's motorcycle near the outskirts of Raybag town. The driver fled the scene after the collision.
Has the auto driver been arrested?
No. The driver abandoned the vehicle and absconded immediately after the crash. Police have registered a case at Raybag police station and are actively searching for the accused.
What is the condition of the injured child?
The child, who was travelling with the family at the time of the accident, sustained serious injuries and has been admitted to hospital. The child's condition is reported to be critical.
Is this part of a broader trend of road accidents in Karnataka?
Yes. Within recent weeks, at least five people were killed in a vehicle-lorry collision near Ladlapur in Kalaburagi, and seven members of the same family died in a car-bus crash in Yadgir. Wrong-side driving and speeding have been flagged as recurring factors in Karnataka's highway fatalities.
