KOCHI: Two persons, including a college student, were killed when a trailer lost control and mowed them down around 8.30 am on Monday as it entered the Seaport-Airport Road from the Info-park main entrance near Kakkanad.
Those killed in the accident are Niya Jain, 18, of Nedumbassery and Pratha-pan K.K, 57, a resident of Kakkanad. Niya was a first year UG student at the Rajagiri College of Applied Sciences, Kakkanad.
As the driver of the concrete-mixer trailer tried to enter the road, he lost control. It first hit Niya, who was on her way to college.
“She was waiting for a cab with a group of students. But the rest could run to safety while she was trapped under the truck’’, police said. Prathapan, who was standing with his scooter, was hit next.
Niya died on the spot while Prathapan was rushed to a private hospital but could not be rescued. Another student, Andriya, suffered injuries and was hospitalised.
Police arrested the driver charging him for a rash and negligent driving. Police said the 16-wheel truck did not have a cleaner.
“While negotiating the turning, he could not see the other side of the road and he had no assistance from a cleaner which may have led to the accident,” police sources said.
“A tragedy was averted as a large number of people at the turn had boarded a bus minutes before the accident”.
Students later blocked the road for a few hours expressing their angst over their security in the area. Residents also joined them. Police intervened to assure steps to ensure their safety following which they dispersed.
