Four, including two college students, killed after lorry runs amok on GST Road near Chennai

Police said the lorry, being driven rashly, ran over two two-wheelers, and knocked down pedestrians waiting to cross the road in Potheri near Maraimalai Nagar; CM M.K. Stalin has announced a solatium for the deceased

A woman, two college students and one other person were killed in the accident that took place on Friday, August 11, 2023 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Four persons were killed, after a speeding lorry ran over them on GST Road in Potheri near Maraimalai Nagar, on Friday (August 11, 2023) morning.

Police said a woman, two college students and another person, were killed on the spot. The Maraimalai Nagar police rushed to the site of the accident, and rescued one more person who has been admitted to the Chengalpattu government hospital. The driver of the truck who escaped after causing the accident was apprehended in the evening. The accused M. Rajendran of Thirukazhukundram was arrested and after producing him before a judicial magistrate, he was sent to prison.

According to the police, the lorry, carrying sand was going towards Tambaram on GST Road. The driver, who was driving rashly, lost control of the vehicle near the Potheri railway junction, knocked down two two-wheelers and ran over a few pedestrians who waiting to cross at the traffic light near the railway junction.

As the lorry was being driven at high seed, it then crossed the road’s median, and came to a halt on the opposite side of the road.

In the accident a 42-year-old women Bhavani, two college students Jasvanth and Karthick and Simon, were killed. The injured person was identified as Parthasarathy.

The Maraimalai Nagar traffic investigation wing police sent the four bodies to the Government Chromepet Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

The residents in the locality organised a protest near the accident site highlighting the need for posting a traffic police to manage the heavy crowd crossing the road from the railway station and the bus stop.

T.N. CM announces solatium 

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has announced a ₹2 lakh solatium for each of the four accident victims. He has also advised the Chengalpattu Collector A.R. Rahul Nadh to take necessary steps to provide medical treatment to the injured person. 

MSME Minister T.M. Anbarasan along with Pallavaram MLA E. Karunanidhi and Collector Rahul Nadh visited the Chromepet Government Hospital and paid their respects to the four victims.

‘Install speed governors’

Tamil Maanila Congress president G.K. Vasan on urged the State government to ensure the installation of speed governors in trucks. Road accidents had become frequent on national highways mainly due to trucks. The Regional Transport Offices should ensure the installation of speed governors in the trucks, he said.

He called for stringent punishment and urged the government to give ₹25 lakh to the families of the two students killed as compensation and to ₹10 lakh to the families of the other two persons killed in the accident.