Chennai: In a freak accident on the East Coast Road near Mahabalipuram, a woman, a fruit vendor and an unidentified person died after a speeding car rammed into an ambulance. The persons who died were helping the ambulance crew in transporting an accident victim when the incident happened.
The deceased were identified as Hema Chandra (26) and Ekambaram (50) of T.Nagar. Ekambaram was a fruit vendor near the Mahabalipuram bus stop while Hema Chandra was a sightseer.
According to the police, Karthik (23) and his 10 friends from Tiruvottiyur were returning from Mahabalipuram in 3 motorcycles and a car early on Sunday morning. When they reached the bypass road, another car touched Karthik’s motorcycle. “He fell on the road and sustained severe injuries. On seeing this, Hema Chandra and her friend Prem Kumar (36), who were having coffee at a shop rushed to the spot. Ekambaram and another person Ajith Kumar of Panaiyur too had rushed there,” the police said.
Prem Kumar alerted the ‘108’ ambulance. When the ambulance reached the spot, Prem Kumar, Hema Chandra, Ekambaram, Ajith Kumar and a few others were helping the crew to take the injured Karthik to the ambulance. At that moment, a car heading at high speed towards Pondicherry rammed the ambulance from behind trapping Ekambaram and Hema Chandra between the car and the ambulance. They died on the spot. Prem Kumar, Ajith Kumar and another unknown person suffered injuries. However, Karthik who had already been moved into the ambulance, escaped another blow.
Mahabalipuram police rushed to the spot and arranged for another ambulance to take the injured persons to Chengalpattu government hospital. Both the car drivers, one who touched Karthik’s bike and another who rammed the ambulance abandoned their cars and fled the spot. Mahabalipuram police registered a case and are investigating the incident.
