A 26-year-old woman, reportedly drunk, was arrested on charges of fatally knocking down a 54-year-old man in Rajiv Gandhi Salai, OMR, on early Saturday morning.
The victim identified as K.Muniswamy, was a loadman residing at PTK Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, with his wife and 2 children, a boy and a girl aged 16 and 11 respectively.
According to police, Muniswamy had stepped out of his house at 4 a.m. As he tried to cross the road on Rajiv Gandhi Salai with his friend, a speeding Audi car knocked him down fatally on the spot. “He was severely injured in the head,” said an investigating officer. His body was sent to the Government Royapettah hospital.
“One of his co-workers came running to us and informed about the incident. When we went to the spot, he was lying dead,” cried Govindammal, his wife.
The woman driver, residents claim, tried to flee the scene after the accident, but was chased and caught by workers.
“She was so drunk that she wasn’t even able to stand. All she said was ‘Sorry’,” said A.Shanti, a relative.
“Traffic officers surrounded the woman and were shouting at us to leave. We were distraught,” she said.
Later, the police arrested the driver Aishwarya (26), daughter of Wilton Rulans, an insurance surveyor and seized her car.
“She is a resident of Chetpet and worked at DLF, a real estate company,” said the investigating officer.
Aishwarya and her two friends Soni Jain and Sushma, both residents of Ambattur, were on their way to Sholinganallur after attending a party. Aishwarya who was under the influence of alcohol lost control of the vehicle. She has been sent to judicial custody and a case has been filed under Section 304 (2) of the Indian Penal Code, culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Non-bailable offence
V.S. Suresh, an advocate specialising in motor accident cases, added that his was a non-bailable offence and the accused could face punishment up to 10 years. “However, rarely have people been punished that long,” he said.
Govindammal looked worried about her children’s future. “We were able to run the household only with what he brought home. He was a very hard working man, and devoted all his time and energy to educating our children. I don’t know what I am going to do now,” she cried clutching her daughter’s hand.
