Visakhapatnam: A 14-year-old boy died after a container lorry collided with an auto-rickshaw at the Kommadi junction on National Highway-16 in the early hours of Saturday, police said. The deceased has been identified as B. Dhanush.
Crash during right turn; lorry driver fled, police said
According to the Visakhapatnam city police, the collision occurred at about 12:50 a.m. when the three-wheeler was negotiating a right turn toward the service road at the busy Kommadi junction. The container lorry, allegedly driven in a rash and negligent manner, struck the auto-rickshaw. The lorry driver reportedly fled the scene immediately after the impact.
Dhanush was travelling with friends toward Kommadi at the time of the crash. He sustained serious injuries and was initially taken to a private hospital before being shifted to King George Hospital (KGH) for further treatment. He succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at KGH. The autorickshaw driver is said to be grievously injured and is under treatment, police reported.
Immediate response and investigation
Visakhapatnam police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. Officers at the scene collected statements from witnesses and are reviewing traffic surveillance in the area to trace the heavy vehicle and its driver, a senior officer said. No arrests had been reported at the time of initial briefings.
- Victim: B. Dhanush, 14 years old
- Location: Kommadi junction, NH-16, Visakhapatnam
- Time: Around 12:50 a.m., October 24, 2026
- Vehicles involved: Container lorry and an auto-rickshaw
- Current status: Lorry driver fled; autorickshaw driver seriously injured; case under investigation
"The lorry allegedly driven in a rash and negligent manner crashed into the three-wheeler and the driver fled the scene," police reported.
Local context and wider concerns
The Kommadi junction on NH-16 is a high-traffic node connecting several suburban localities to the city. Accidents at this junction have previously raised concerns among residents, civic groups and traffic authorities about the mix of heavy goods vehicles and light passenger traffic, especially during night hours. The death of a teenager underscores long-standing issues around enforcement of speed restrictions, route discipline for heavy vehicles and safe turning facilities for smaller transport modes.
Road safety experts in the city have often urged measures such as better demarcation of service roads, improved signage, speed-calming measures and deployment of night-time traffic patrols to reduce the incidence of such collisions. While these systemic solutions require coordination between the National Highways Authority, city traffic police and local civic bodies, immediate measures after such incidents typically include forensic examination of the vehicle, checking of toll and weighbridge records and examination of nearby CCTV feeds.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Accident time | 12:50 a.m. |
| Victim | B. Dhanush, 14 |
| Immediate medical action | Shifted from private hospital to King George Hospital; later died |
Police said they were coordinating with highway patrol and nearby police stations to trace the container lorry. Residents at Kommadi called for stricter enforcement against drivers who flout night-time regulations and for speed checks at vulnerable junctions.
The incident will likely renew calls for targeted road-safety interventions in Visakhapatnam’s suburban corridors, especially along stretches of NH-16 where local traffic converges with long-haul commercial vehicles. For now, the family of the deceased is mourning the loss of a teenager, while investigators pursue leads to locate the lorry and its driver.
