Date:04/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/04/stories/2006030417730300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Three killed in road accidents

Staff Reporter

Rash driving, overspeeding to blame: police "The vehicle was overspeeding and he did not know the address as he was new to the city"

CHENNAI : Three persons were killed in accidents, caused mainly due to rash driving and over-speeding in the past two days in the city, police said on Friday.

The victims were two-wheeler riders and a pedestrian.

Elanjeliyan, 40, lost his life on Friday when his motorcycle was involved in an accident with a bus coming from behind. The accident occurred near the Tiruvanmiyur depot around 10 a.m.

Mr. Elanjeliyan was headed for his office in Adyar from his house in Palavakkam.

According to the traffic police, the Kalpakkam-Chennai bus (route no.118) was overspeeding.

"The driver lost control and hit the vehicle," said an officer.

"The driver swerved to the right in panic without realising that the victim was lying on the road after being thrown off the vehicle. The back wheel ran over his head, killing him immediately." Driver S. Kannappan has been arrested for causing death due to negligence and later remanded to custody.

Pedestrian killed

An MTC bus (57 F) hit 60-year-old Martin. F, who was crossing the road near the Royapuram bridge on Thursday evening. According to the police, the accident happened around 4-30 p.m.

Mr. Martin sustained head injuries after the bus headed towards Parrys hit him.

He was admitted to the Stanley hospital where he died. The driver, Balaji, was arrested and remanded.

Two wheeler rider dies

On Thursday night, two persons on a two-wheeler met with an accident near Villivakkam.

According to the Tirumangalam traffic investigation police, the accident occurred when the motorcycle rider S. Manikandan, 22, applied brakes suddenly to take a turn.

"The vehicle was overspeeding and he did not know the address as he was new to the city and had come to attend a wedding. When he suddenly applied brakes, the vehicle hit an electric pole on West Jagannathan Nagar around 11.30 p.m.," said an official.

Manikandan died on the spot and pillion rider V. Sundaram, 26, is being treated at the General Hospital for head injuries.