Drunk and distracted by Google Maps, Chennai woman in SUV runs over two

CHENNAI: A heady mix of alcohol and the use of Google Maps to find her way while driving proved near fatal for at least two women sleeping on the road who had their legs crushed by an SUV driven by a 49-year-old woman in Ashok Nagar during the early hours of Sunday. Three others including a 12-year-old girl suffered minor injuries, police said.

Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) arrested Vaishali Patil (49), a resident of Koyambedu for driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol and injuring the public.

According to police officers, the incident happened around 3 am on Sunday. The injured were sleeping on the road on Ashok Nagar 10th street outside their relative's house where they had come to attend a family event. Police said that some of the relatives were sleeping on the road as the house could not accommodate them all. "It was a dead end and a narrow lane too, " said a police officer.

Vaishali who was driving towards Kodambakkam lost her way and entered the narrow lane and did not notice the men and women sleeping on the road and caused the accident.

The injured women were identified as M Saritha (38) and R Thillainayagi (40) who had their legs crushed while three others Jothi (65), Gowtham (25) and Nisha (12) suffered minor injuries. Vaishali managed to bring the vehicle to a halt and the people in the home rushed outside hearing the screams and rushed to the aid of the injured.

Vaishali was caught and handed over to the police. Saritha and Thillainayagi were moved to Government Royapettah Hospital (GRH) for treatment. The others were treated as outpatients and went home, police said.

Guindy TIW (Traffic Investigation Wing) had registered a case under sections 279 (rash and negligent driving), 337 (causing hurt by endangering) and section 185 of Motor Vehicle Act (drunk driving).