Unlicensed driver causes accident, Class 8 girl dead

The police said the school van which was carrying 13 children to a private school at Mambakkam accidentally collided against a lorry on the Vandallur-Kelambakkam Road. The van over turned, killing Nethrasree (13), daughter of Ganesh, a resident of Urapakkam. Nethrasree’s younger sister Roshini along with 11 other students also suffered injuries in the accident. 

Police said Nethrasree died on the spot. The van was driven by a 22-year-old youth, who did not even have a driving licence, let alone a badge that enables one to drive a public vehicle or commercial vehicle.  One needs to have a minimum three years of driving experience, after taking the badge, to drive a vehicle carrying school children. 

Police have arrested both the owner of the private van Nityanandam (29) and the driver Karthikeyan (22). Police have registered a case under 302 (a) of the IPC and the arrested have been remanded in judicial custody. 

The Tambaram traffic investigation team rushed to the spot and admitted the injured children and van driver to the hospital. The driver of the lorry, against which the van collided, stopped the lorry and escaped from the spot. Police said the van driver, Karthikeyan was driving too fast, and he tried to overtake the lorry, which caused the accident.