KOLLAM: A young BJP councillor of Kollam corporation and her father died in a hit-and-run accident at Altharamoodu near Kavanadu here on Tuesday night. Kokila S. Kumar, 23, who was pillion-riding with her father Sunil Kumar, 50, of Varavarniniyil, Olayil, at Thevally died on the spot when a speeding car hit the scooter from behind on the Kavanadu stretch around 10.30 p.m. Her father was rushed to the Kollam district hospital with serious injuries on his head and later to a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram where he died on Wednesday morning.
The police arrested Akhil Alex, 20, of Maruthadi here, the driver of the car, a day after the incident. The accident occurred when Kokila and her father were returning home on their new scooter after taking part in an Onam kit distribution organised by Aiswarya residents association at Kavanadu. Kokila, who was thrown out of the scooter when the car hit the scooter, died as she hit her head against a concrete slab. The car was later found abandoned at Sakthikulangara. Driver Akhil, who went absconding, was arrested from a hideout at Maruthadi on Wednesday. Blood samples will be taken to verify whether he was drunk at the time of the accident.
Kokila, the youngest councillor of Kollam corporation, was elected from Thevally division at the age of 22. Her marriage was fixed for December. Kokila was also elected to the BJP state committee recently. She graduated in economics from SN College, Kollam. Her father was a driver with the Paravur fire and rescue station. The bodies were cremated at the Mulankadakom crematorium. Sunil Kumar leaves his wife Shailaja, and children Sabari, ninth standard student, and Karthika, B.Sc student.
