In a tragic road accident near the Kurukkathi check post on the Coimbatore-Trichy National Highway, six individuals, including a police constable on duty, lost their lives in the early hours of Wednesday. The incident occurred around 3 am when a truck transporting logs from Cuddalore to Vellakoil struck a barricade placed in front of the check post.
Sequence of Events
The truck driver, identified as Senthil, 48, parked the vehicle on the roadside and sought assistance from constable Ravichandran, 36, who was stationed at the check post, to reposition the damaged barricade. While the two were moving the barricade, a speeding sport utility vehicle (SUV) traveling from Mayiladuthurai to Coimbatore collided with them. The SUV then rammed into a stationary truck after hitting the constable and the driver.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as Ravichandran, a constable attached to the Vellakoil police station; Senthil, the truck driver; Ram, 22, the SUV driver from Alangulam; and SUV passengers Narasimhan, 65, Santhalakshmi, 60, and Balaji, 36, all from Mayiladuthurai. All six individuals, including a woman, died on the spot.
Response and Investigation
Upon receiving information, the Vellakoil police rushed to the scene and recovered the bodies, which were subsequently sent to the Tirupur Government Medical College Hospital for postmortem examination. Senior officials, including Coimbatore range DIG P Swaminathan and Tirupur district collector Manish Narnaware, inspected the accident site. A case has been registered, and a detailed investigation is under way.
Compensation Announced
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced compensation of Rs 30 lakh for the family of the constable who lost his life in the accident.
