Date:18/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/18/stories/2006031819650300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Road accidents claim four lives in 48 hours

Staff Reporter

Traffic police identifying accident-prone spots in city

Victims include six-month old boy and an 18-year-old girl

Accidents in Egmore, Velacheri-Taramani 100 Feet Road

CHENNAI: Four people died in road accidents in Chennai metropolitan police limits in the past 48 hours ending Friday evening.

The victims include a one-six month old boy and an 18-year-old girl.

The police said a child, Aravindan was playing on Manikavasagam Street in Jaffarkhanpet area on Thursday. Around 12.30 p.m., an autorickshaw lost control and hit the child. He was taken to a hospital nearby, where he was declared dead on arrival. Police arrested the autorickshaw driver, E. Viswanathan of Jaffarkhanpet.

The second accident occurred on Taramani -Velacheri 100 Feet Road when a speeding lorry knocked down a cyclist, R. Dhanasingh (60).

The police said the cyclist was passing through the stretch at 7.30 p.m. when the lorry hit him from the rear. He was taken to a hospital nearby and later shifted to the Government General Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries late at night.

The lorry driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the spot, the police said. Guindy traffic police are probing the two accidents.

The third accident occurred on Friday morning when a police Sub-Inspector (54) attached to the crime wing of Madhavaram station died of head injuries after a fall from his motorcycle on GST Road near the airport.

According to the police, the victim, Siva Prakasam, a resident of Tamil Nadu Housing Board Colony in Tambaram Sanatorium, swerved his vehicle to the left to avoid hitting a cow. Losing control of the vehicle, he skidded and dashed against a median.

As he had not strapped on his helmet tightly, there were severe head injuries and he was rushed to the Chromepet GH, where he was declared dead on arrival. Tambaram traffic police are investigating.

The fourth accident took place on Pantheon Road in Egmore on Friday. A college student, M. Ramya (18), came out of a hospital off Pantheon Road when a tanker lorry hit her from behind. Caught under the lorry's wheel, she was crushed to death. Police arrested the lorry driver, Kadhiresan.

Traffic police authorities said they have started mapping accident-prone spots on city roads. Adequate traffic police personnel will be posted in these areas to reduce fatal accidents.