Bengaluru: A speeding water tanker rammed into a group of people who were crossing the road near Esteem Mall at Kempapura Junction in Hebbal on Thursday noon. Before the vehicle came to a halt, it had hit a bike, killed two people on the spot and seriously injured three others.

The CCTV footage of the accident reveals panic-stricken pedestrians running to save their lives. The killer tanker was reportedly moving at around 90 kilometres per hour speed and came to a halt after moving nearly 200 metres after hitting the bike.

The deceased have been identified as Arpita (19) and Anand (25). Arpita is first year BCom student at Sindhi College of Commerce and daughter of Janardhan and Kalavathi. Janardhan is an arecanut merchant and stays in Tumakuru, and is the younger brother of former MLA of Devanahalli G. Chandranna. Arpita was staying with her mother in Devanahalli. The other deceased, Anand, was a native of Gollarahalli in Doddaballapura.

The injured, identified as Akshata, Kusumasri (both classmates of Arpita) and Sumanth Reddy, have been hospitalised. The accused driver, Yatish Babu, 28, has been arrested.

The incident occurred around 12.45 pm, when a group of college students and others were crossing the road. The tanker was coming from Rajanukunte and the driver increased the speed in order to cross the signal, before it turned red. He lost control of the vehicle and hit the pedestrians crossing the road. It also bike, which Anand and Sumanth Reddy were riding.

“Two people died on the spot while three others sustained serious injuries. Several others had a close shave and escaped with minor injuries. The driver was subjected to medical tests and he was not driving under the influence of alcohol. He will be booked under stringent laws,” the police said.

Among the injured Akshata and Kusumasri suffered fracture on their limbs, while the killer vehicle ran over Sumanth’s right leg. Ramesh Babu, a security guard, who also sustained injuries said, “I had to go to Yelahanka for some work. I was crossing the road to catch a bus at Air Force bus stand. The tanker came at a high speed and I ran to save my life and jumped. Within seconds it hit several pedestrians. If the incident had taken place just five seconds earlier, the casualties would have been higher. It’s just my luck I survived the accident.”

Watch: Bangalore accident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSozawt_JCA