Mangaluru: In a tragic road mishap, two priests died and another was injured near Karnataka Agencies at Kottara here, on November 1.
The deceased have been identified as Fr Maxim Furtado (74) and Fr John D’Souza (74), retired priests living at the Vianney Home Kankanady.
According to the police, Fr Maxim along with Fr John D’Souza (both 74) and Rector of Jeppu Seminary Fr Joseph Martis (55) were on their way to Kuloor Church to offer mass. When they reached near Karnataka Agencies at Kottara, the driver of the Jeep while overtaking a bullet tanker made momentary contact. To avoid crashing into another tanker that was parked on the side of the road, the driver swerved the jeep to the left, thereby losing control and subsequently rolled into a ditch by the roadside.
Fr Maxim and Fr John were severely injured. All the three were rushed to the hospital but Fr Maxim died on the way to the hospital. Fr John, who was critically injured, later succumbed to his injuries. Fr Joseph Martis luckily escaped with minor injuries.
A case has been registered in the Urva Police Station.
