Van mows down 40 sheep, shepherd on Gobi highway

The shepherd was identified as K Marudhachalam (60), a resident of Sulur in Coimbatore district. Kadathur police said that accident took place while the van was passing through Kodiveri cross-road on the national highway. 

According to police and eye witnesses, Raja (29) was returning to Gobi after picking up a group of passengers from Tiruchy airport and dropping them at Coimbatore. When the vehicle was passing through Kodiveri, the region was experiencing moderate showers and there was poor visibility. Suddenly the heard of sheep crossed the road. Unable to control the vehicle, Raja mowed them down. 

When Marudhachalam, the shepherd, tried to save them, he too was knocked down and suffered grievous injuries. Though he was rushed to the Gobichettipalayam government hospital, doctors declared him ‘brought dead’. 

The driver surrendered before the Gobichettipalayam police and was handed over to the Kadathur police.