Chennai: Three members of a family were killed while two others were injured after the car they were travelling plunged from an unfinished flyover on Outer Ring Road near Red Hills on Thursday night. The family was returning after attending an engagement of their relative in Minjur when they met with the accident, police said.
The SUV fell into a pit from a height of about 30 feet. The deceased were identified as Palani (65), his wife Navaneetham (55) and their daughter, Pavithra (26). Pavithra’s husband Ayyapan and driver Kandavel miraculously survived the accident. Police investigations revealed that other members of their family were trailing them in two cars. Members in one of the cars had attempted to alert them, but the damage had already been done, according to a relative of the deceased.
“They were supposed to go towards Manimangalam. The driver took the flyover instead of the service lane,” the relative added. Locals and relatives alleged that there were no barricades or signs to indicate it were an unfinished bridge. However, other two cars had found about the unfinished bridge and had attempted to alert them, a police officer said.
Police said that immediately after the car suffered a fall, driver Kandavel managed to get out through the front door while Ayyapan who was seated at the rear seat broke open a glass and made way. In spite of their attempts to save the family members, they died on the spot, police said. Police secured the three bodies and moved it to the Government Hospital in Ponneri for autopsy. Ayyappan and Pavithra were married four years ago, police said. The construction of the flyover has been underway for the past four years. However, the works were stalled for the past six months. Sholavaram police have registered a case under sections 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others.) and 304 (ii) of the IPC against the contractor and are investigating.
