Andhra Pradesh Police arrest driver of Kurnool bus which went up in flames

“The driver will be produced before the magistrate tomorrow,” a police source said.

Lakshmaiah was driving the bus when it hit a bike, dragged it for 300 meters and caught fire. The bike, which had met with a separate accident, was lying on the road when the bus hit it. The bike rider was inebriated when the accident took place, a forensic report has shown.

“The driver of the bus told us that he was not speeding at the time of the accident because it was raining. He was driving at 80 to 90 km/ hour,” a senior police officer told the Indian Express. The second driver of the bus, however, has not yet been arrested because he was not driving at the time of the accident. “He had the presence of mind to break open the windows to help save people who were stuck inside. So, we are not thinking of arresting him as of now,” the police source said.

The second driver — 30-year-old Shiva Narayana – has been cooperating with the police.

“Even the first driver was not absconding. We had served him notice to appear before us and he has been appearing,” a police source said.

The police have also taken the statement of the pillion rider of the bike, Yerri Swamy, 20. He was taken to the accident spot to recreate the scene.

“He told us that two buses passed by the bike within minutes of the accident and did not hit it. The third bus met with the fatal collision,” police said.