Car falls into gorge at Ooty; driver killed, 5 kids injured

Ooty town police said the car rolled over twice before it came to a halt several feet below on the next road near Lovedale close to Udhagamandalam town. Police identified the driver as Gilbert Santhosh (22) from Lovedale. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the injured children were students of two schools in Udhagamandalam town and that they used to catch a bus to school. 

On Friday, they had missed the bus and were in a hurry to reach school and sought a ride from Santhosh. Police sources said that the driver was speeding on the ghat road to reach their schools in time and lost control of the vehicle at a blind curve. 

The car rolled over twice on the slope before landing on the road below. Luckily, no other vehicle was passing that stretch of the road at that busy time. Passers-by rescued the occupants who were stuck in the mangled remains of the car. 

The children and driver were rushed to a nearby hospital, but Santhosh died on the way. After first aid, the children were referred to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital for intensive care. The police said that the condition of two children, including a girl was critical. 

Tensed moments prevailed at the hospitals as worried parents and relatives thronged to see the children. Police registered a case against Santhosh under sections 279 (rash driving or riding in a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code. The police said that the case will be closed as the accused (driver) is no more.