Retd. cop killed after rash driving techie hits her bike

CHENNAI: A 61-year-old retired police inspector, C Selva Kumari who was returning home after visiting a friend in Melakottayur was killed after two youths on a rashly driven motorcycle hit her two-wheeler from behind on Vandalur Outer Ring Road (ORR) near Mannivakkam.

The over-speeding bike is suspected to be part of a drag racing group along the Vandalur-Minjur Outer Ring Road, which is a common sight there, according to locals, but police have denied racing and maintained that it was a rash driving.

The accident happened around 10 am. Selva Kumari suffered grievous head injuries, despite wearing a helmet and was killed on the spot. The occupants on the bike who caused the accident was identified as Vishwa (23), a software engineer and his relative, Saravanan. They are residing in Poonamalee.

Chromepet traffic investigation wing personnel secured Selva Kumari’s body and sent it to Chromepet government hospital for autopsy. The youths were admitted to a private hospital for further treatment.

According to locals, racing of two-wheelers and even auto-rickshaws is prevalent on ORR, during weekends.

Selva Kumari lived with her husband Sundara Vadanam (63), a retired Additional Superintendent of Police in Arumbakkam. She retired from the services in 2008.

Sundara Vadanam said that he is not aware whether racing was involved and grieved that rash driving has robbed his wife’s life. She had returned from the USA only two months ago, after visiting their daughter.

“She had served with the railway police too and during her stint, she herself had recovered 150 unclaimed bodies on railway tracks,” Sundara Vadanam said.

Are you in Chennai? Then click here to get our newspaper at your doorstep!