Chennai: A class seven student was killed and her nine-year-old younger sister suffered grievous injuries after they were flung out through the open door of a van that toppled near Vandalur, 30 km off the city, on Monday morning.
Eleven other school children survived the accident with injuries, police said. The accident happened around 7:45 am near Vengambakkam koot road along the Vandalur-Kelambakkam road. Thirteen school children of Velammal Vidhyashram in Mambakkam were ferried in the private van hired by parents of the wards, police said.
The children were mostly from areas in and around Urapakkam. The driver of the vehicle had attempted to overtake a truck when the side of the vehicle brushed with the truck. “To avert from the truck, the driver had swerved right and the vehicle ran into a trench by the roadside and toppled,” a police officer said. In the melee, two children, G, Nethra Sri (13) and her younger sister, G, Roshini (9) who were seated close to the door, were flung out of the door.
Passersby rushed to the aid of the children before police could reach the scene and the heavily injured sisters were taken to Chettinad Medical College Hospital in Kelambakkam. Nethra Sri was declared brought dead while Roshini is being treated for her injuries at the same hospital, police said.
The injured students are being treated at Tagore Medical College Hospital. The driver, Karthik (23) of Kolapakkam fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle fearing mob justice. He, along with the van owner, Nityanandham of Oonamanchery was arrested by the Chromepet Traffic Investigation wing.
