Honnavar: In a ghastly collision between Ambulance and the Gas tanker that happened on NH-66 near Ramthirta in Honnavar on Thursday, an elderly patient was killed on the spot, while the ambulance driver sustained critical injuries.

The deceased patient, who was on ambulance, was identified as Ramakrishna Ganapathi Prasad, aged 70, a resident of Gokarna in Kumta taluk, while the injured ambulance driver is identified as Jaanu Datta Naik, aged 45, a resident of Baggon cross in Kumta.

Sources informed that the tragedy happened when the Gas tanker which was heading towards Kumta from Mangaluru had an head-on collision with the Ambulance that was boarding a patient from Gokarna to a private hospital in Honnavar.

Two others - Balachandra Ganapathi Prasad, aged 37, and Sumana, aged 50, who were accompanying the deceased patient escaped with minor injuries and are getting treatment at Honnavar government hospital.

Fearing the incident, the tanker driver reportedly fled the scene. The movement of traffic on the highway affected, after which the accident vehicles were towed off the road to clear the traffic movement.

A case has been registered in Honnavar police station.