The man driving the private van that turned turtle resulting in the death of a 14-year-old schoolboy on Wednesday was a minor.
According to police, the 17-year-old young man fled to his native village in Tirunelveli district soon after the accident. He was picked up and brought to the city on Friday, where he was produced before a judicial magistrate and later send to a government home in Chengalpattu.
The accident, which occurred when a private van transporting students from Pammal to Vel’s Vidyashram overturned near the Pallavaram – Thoraipakkam Radial Road, also injured six other students.
Saravanan, the owner and driver of the vehicle, belongs to Zamin Pallavaram. After picking up the students from various places, he was proceeding to the school, when he stopped midway. He got down from the van and handed over control to the attendant, a minor, who was driving when the accident took place on a bridge.
Police said the minor was living in a rented home under the care of his employer, Saravanan, on Bajanai Koil Street, Zamin Pallavaram. The minor was not eligible to even apply for a license. Saravanan knew this, but still asked him to take control of the vehicle, police said.
It was not until late on Friday evening that traffic police were able to confirm the minor’s arrest and his subsequent remand to judicial custody.
