Three die as car rams ambulance on ECR

They were shifting accident victims near Mamallapuram

Two of the rescuers died on the spot, while another person died at the Chengalpattu Government Hospital. The ambulance driver sustained injuries.

The noble intention of rescuing road accident victims on Sunday cost three good samaritans their life.

Hemachandran, 30, Ekambaram, 50, and an unidentified person were on the East Coast Road near the heritage town of Mamallapuram when they noticed that a car had knocked down a motorcycle leaving Karthik and Ajith of Tiruvottiyur injured early on Sunday.

An ambulance arrived shortly and the three persons were shifting the two injured into it when another speeding car hit them killing Hemachandran and Ekambaram on the spot.

The third person died at the Chengalpattu Government Hospital, the police said. The ambulance driver sustained injuries.

A 17-year-old was at the wheel, it is alleged.

Karthik and Ajith, who sustained injuries in both the accidents, and the ambulance driver are receiving treatment. The police arrested both the car drivers and the teenager’s father. The teenager’s friend, who accompanied him, was let off.

The Mamallapuram police registered cases of negligence and rash driving.