Man run over while trying to help accident victim

CHENNAI: A 50-year-old Tata Magic driver was run over by a Tempo Traveller while trying to rescue a two-wheeler rider hit by the same vehicle near Maduravoyal early on Monday. The two-wheeler rider escaped, while the Tata Magic driver, V Annamalai of Madurantakam, was declared dead at the Kilpauk Medical College. The offending van driver, A Venugopal, was arrested .
Police said Annamalai was returning home around 1am when he had to stop by the road side. He was crossing the road when he saw a two-wheeler rider hit by the Tempo Traveller from behind. Annamalai ran to the spot and found the victim in a pool of blood. As Annamalai was lifting him, the driver of the Tempo Traveller tried to flee and hit Annamalai . The front wheel ran over his stomach. The Tempo Traveller driver was caught by passersby and handed over to the police.
Annamalai was rushed to the KMCH where he was declared dead on arrival. Annamalai’s wife and children live in Madurantakam. The twowheeler rider, Thangadurai (21), works in a private company on Nelson Manickam Road. He is recovering at the KMCH. A native of Erode, he was returning home to Poonamallee on his bike when he was hit by the Tempo Traveller heading towards Tirupati. Police registered a case and arrested Venugopal (48) of Tirupati for rash and negligent driving. He was booked under IPC Section 304 (A).
Earlier, Poonamallee traffic police had pasted near the accident site posters containing Annamalai’s photograph and other details after being informed by local residents.
“We found the driving licence and documents with Annamalai’s photo in the vehicle ,” sub-inspector U Govind , Poonamallee traffic investigation wing, told TOI.