DSP killed as car hits roadside tree

He was returning to office after dropping family at the venue of a marriage function

R. Vetrivel (54), Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tiruchuli sub-division in Virudhunagar district, was killed when his car hit a roadside tree at Palavanatham near here on Monday evening.

The police said the victim was driving a private car on his way back to his office in Tiruchuli after dropping his family members at the venue of a marriage function.

The police said Vetrivel lost control of the vehicle, which hit a tree on the right side of Virudhunagar-Aruppukottai Road near Kannimariamman Temple at Palavanatham. The incident occurred around 4.15 p.m.

“As the DSP was not in his uniform and was driving a private car, the onlookers could not identify him. When he was rushed to the Government Hospital in Virudhunagar, the doctors declared him dead. Only a policeman on duty at the GH identified him,” a police officer said.

The DSP might have failed to fasten seat belt and as a result his head hit the windscreen when the speeding car dashed against the tree, police sources said.