Chennai: Three women flower vendors died and eight others, including six women, were injured when the mini load vehicle in which they were
travelling to the Koyambedu market crashed against a concrete mixer vehicle parked on the Chennai bypass near Thiruneermalai early on Wednesday morning. The accident happened at around 5.25 am.
Local residents and other motorists were engaged in shifting the injured to the hospital while police turned up late and ‘108’ ambulance failed to reach the spot on time, noted police sources. The body of a woman, who died on the spot, was on the road for more than an hour till her son reached the spot and begged for cloth to cover her face, to keep away flies.
Two injured women transported in private cars died later in the hospital, while the injured were taken in an ambulance of a private hospital and were admitted to the government hospital.
Police identified the deceased as M. Sujatha, 45, A. Vasanthi, 41 and R. Tamilarasi. All hailed from Ratinamangalam areas where a Kubera temple is located. The flower vendors wanted to go to the market early and come back to the temple before devotees start visiting the temple for Aadi Pooram, on Wednesday.
They started their journey at around 4.45 am in the minivan, driven by Manikandan, with Muthazhagu, owner of the vehicle and Sujatha sitting the front cabin. Eight others were travelling in the cargo space of the mini lorry when the accident happened.
Poonamallee traffic police, after more than an hour tussle with Chromepet traffic wing over jurisdiction, said they had arrested the driver of the concrete mixture vehicle for allegedly causing the accident.
