K. Raghu, a software engineer working in the United States, was killed in an accident after his two-wheeler hit a temporary wooden arch erected on Avinashi Road near Peelamedu for MGR centenary celebrations. As soon as he fell off the motorcycle, the 32-year-old man was run over by a heavy vehicle killing him on the spot. The accident occurred around 2.40 a.m. on Saturday.
The accident occurred when Raghu was on his way to Singanallur bus stand. The victim, who had come to Coimbatore to finalise his marriage, was planning to park the motorcycle at Singanallur bus stand and take a bus to Palani Murugan Temple.
As Raghu crossed the signal at Coimbatore Medical College junction, protruding portion of a wooden pole that formed part of the arch on the road hit his two-wheeler. Having fell on the road, he was run over by a heavy vehicle which is yet to be identified. His head was completely crushed in the accident.
“Though the youth had worn helmet, it was thrown off in the impact of the accident,” said an official from Traffic Investigation Wing-East. Raghu was scheduled to return to the U.S. on Saturday night.
R.M. Selvaraj, a social worker, said that accident occurred due to sheer negligence from the side of authorities by permitting to erect arches and hoarding structures on the road. In fact, they occupied more than 20 % to 30 % of the motorable space. He claimed that the issue was informed to the police on Friday itself but negligence led to the accident.
“Though MGR centenary celebrations are to be held on December 3, cut outs encroaching roads were erected more than a week in advance posing inconvenience and threat to the motorists. Authorities should take efforts to remove the temporary structures encroaching roads immediately,” said another motorist.
On the stretch from Airport junction to VOC Ground, more than 10 structures were erected on both sides encroaching Avinashi Road. Several structures encroached the road for more than one metre on one side. The TIW-East has registered a case in connection with the accident.
