An early morning joyride turned tragic before sunrise on Friday, February 13, 2026, when an SUV traveling at more than 150 kilometers per hour triggered a multi-vehicle crash on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India. The collision killed all six students in the SUV along with a motorcyclist heading home from work. The terrible accident occurred on the Hoskote-Dabaspet National Highway near Kambalipura Gate between 4:15 and 4:30 a.m., leaving the vehicle crushed beyond recognition.
Investigators discovered that the six students—five minors and one 18-year-old—had left home around 3 a.m. without informing their families. The driver, 17-year-old Ayaan Ali, had taken his father’s XUV 700 and picked up his friends for what they believed would be an early morning ride along the highway connecting Hoskote and Devanahalli.
Police reported that the accident began when Ali, allegedly driving between 150 and 160 kmph on a road restricted to 100 kmph, slammed into a motorcycle from behind. The rider, 26-year-old Gagan, a supervisor at Safal Market from Devanayakanahalli, was thrown into the air and died instantly. He had been on his regular commute home after finishing his night shift, a routine he followed every day.
After the initial impact, the SUV swerved out of control and crashed into a truck ahead. The collision was so forceful that it ripped apart the truck’s rear axle and housing, causing the heavy vehicle to overturn onto the service road. The SUV then struck a crash barrier and scraped along it for nearly 150 meters before coming to a halt.
The truck driver, 32-year-old Balasubramani, sustained injuries but survived. “The road was quiet, and I was driving normally in my lane when something hit my truck from behind and it toppled in seconds,” he said from his hospital bed.
All six students in the SUV were pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified them as Ayaan Ali, 17, a Class 10 student from Kothanur; Arhaan Sharif, 16, a Class 10 student from HBR Layout; Ashwin Nair, 17, a first-year PU student from Kothanur; Ethan George, 17, also a first-year PU student from Hulimavu; Bharath, 17, a Class 10 student from Frazer Town; and Mohammed Farhan Shaik, 18, enrolled in Class 10 via correspondence and living in Kammanahalli.
The situation escalated about 15 minutes later when a car heading toward Bengaluru airport struck the truck’s detached axle, which remained on the roadway. The two occupants in that car suffered minor injuries.
By around 11 a.m., devastated parents reached the Hoskote Government Hospital, struggling to comprehend the tragedy. Many had believed their children were still asleep at home. Initially, police had informed families that the children were seriously injured, leaving them unprepared for the heartbreaking reality awaiting them at the mortuary.
For Gagan’s family, the loss was especially devastating. The 26-year-old had been the primary breadwinner for his visually impaired mother and was the only son following his father’s passing. His uncle Devaraj told reporters, “Gagan was the pillar of our house.”
Investigators noted that although CCTV cameras and speed radars are placed along the highway, they were unable to quickly retrieve clear footage of the incident. The multi-vehicle accident happened on the Dabaspet-Hoskote Satellite Town Ring Road, where the speed limit is 100 kilometers per hour—significantly lower than the SUV’s estimated speed.
The XUV 700 was reduced to a twisted heap of metal and shattered glass, making it difficult for emergency teams to identify the victims.
Police have launched a comprehensive investigation into the crash, including whether alcohol or drugs were factors. The Dabaspet-Hoskote Satellite Town Ring Road, typically quiet during the early hours, became the site of one of Bengaluru’s most tragic accidents in recent years, claiming seven young lives in a matter of seconds.