A tragic accident late Saturday night in Bengaluru claimed two lives after an ambulance jumped a red signal and crashed into multiple motorcycles near Richmond Circle. According to police, the speeding vehicle collided with three two-wheelers that were waiting at the signal around 11 p.m. The impact was so severe that one motorcycle was dragged for several metres before the ambulance rammed into a nearby police outpost and came to a halt. The victims, identified as 40-year-old Ismail and his wife Sameen Banu, were riding a scooter and died instantly. Two other riders sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos and panic, with several vehicles toppled and bystanders rushing to help the injured. The ambulance, reportedly not carrying any patient at the time, was moving at high speed when it ignored the red light, according to local residents and CCTV footage reviewed by investigators. The Wilson Garden traffic police detained the driver, identified as Ashok, for questioning to determine whether negligence, fatigue, or mechanical failure contributed to the crash. Preliminary findings suggest reckless driving and violation of traffic rules as the key causes.

The accident has sparked outrage among commuters and social media users, many of whom criticized the lack of discipline among emergency drivers when not responding to active calls. Residents in the Richmond Circle area have long complained about frequent overspeeding by ambulances and private vehicles on that stretch. Authorities have now promised stricter enforcement of traffic signals and speed limits, especially for emergency vehicles operating without active emergencies. The tragic deaths of Ismail and Sameen Banu have once again drawn attention to Bengaluru’s growing road safety crisis.