Thrissur: A speeding Innova car on the way from Kannur to Erattupetta in Kottayam lost control and dashed into a bus shelter in front of Amala Medical College and Hospital on Thrissur-Guruvayur highway killing three persons on the spot and injuring six early Saturday morning. The deceased are Nelliparambil Gangadharan (67), a resident of Cheerakuzhy in Amalanagar, Michelle (18), daughter of Chacko, Kunnathu Veettil, Chittilappilly, and Manjinga Veetil Hamsa (58) of Karuvambay near Njamanegadu in Kunnamkulam. They were waiting for the bus towards Thrissur.
Police took the car having Tamilnadu registration and its driver Abdul Sathar of Erattupetta into custody and registered a case of culpable homicide against him. Peramangalam SI M. V. Manikandan told DC that Mr Sathar had been driving since 1.30 am and dozed off at the wheel leading to the accident. More than ten people were in the bus shelter at the time, and all the four travelling in the car escaped unhurt. The police will produce the driver before a magistrate at his residence on Sunday.
The iron handrails and benches of the shelter were destroyed and one of the victims Ms Michelle, a degree student in Bangalore, was struck in between the car and iron bars. Fire and rescue services team had a tough job cutting the bars and pushing the car backwards. But, they could not save her life, and she died on the spot. The condition of all the injured are out of danger, the police said. Legislators Anil Akkara and Murali Perinelli and DCC president P.A. Madhavan visited the injured in Amala Hospital.
