Fourteen people were killed and another six were seriously injured when the mini tempo in which they were travelling collided with a diesel tanker near Lokapura, about 44 km from here today, police said.
While 10 people died on the spot, four breathed their last on way to hospital. Among the dead were three women, they said.
All the injured have been hospitalised.
Police said that under the impact of the collision, the tanker skidded and fell into a sugar cane field. Some diesel leaked out and efforts were on to contain it, they said.
The driver of the heavy vehicle fled the spot and efforts were on to nab him, they said.
The tanker was proceeding to Bijapur from Belagavi and the mini tempo was ferrying passengers locally when the mishap occurred.
