CHENNAI: An eight-year-old girl, who was riding pillion on her father's bike fell from the vehicle after she dozed off and died after she came under the wheels of a truck near Singaperumal Koil in Chengalpet district on Monday. The father and daughter along with her 10-year-old brother were on their way to perform rituals on her mother's first death anniversary.
Kid on bike dozes off, crushed by lorry
K Avanthika was a resident of Mannivakkam near Perungalathur. She was staying with her father Krishna, 44 and her 10-year-old brother. Police said the mother of the children died due to ill health on June 13 last year. On Monday, the three were travelling to their native village Kondithandalam in Madurantakam to perform rituals on the woman's one-year death anniversary. Krishna was riding the bike while the two children were riding pillion.
"Since Krishna woke up the kids early to get ready for the rituals, the girl was sleepy. She dozed off twice when he managed to slow down the vehicle and wake her up," said an investigating officer.
Around 7am, when the vehicle was moving on GST Road nearing Singaperumal Koil, the accident happened. Avanthika who was holding on to Krishna dozed off and slipped from the vehicle. "It all happened before the father could react. He lost control of the vehicle as soon as she fell," said the officer. Krishna and the boy landed a few metres away. As Avanthika fell on the road a truck coming from behind ran over her before her father could come to her rescue. She suffered severe head injuries and died on the spot. The other motorists stopped the truck but the driver managed to escape.
Avanthika who was rushed to Chromepet Government Hospital was declared dead. The Chromepet traffic investigation police registered a case of causing death due to negligence. Further probe is on.
Meanwhile, soon after the accident, locals gathered at the spot and alleged the stretch witnesses frequent accidents as signals along it remain non-functional and some of the junctions unmanned. There has not been any attempt to check speeding vehicles on the stretch, they also alleged.
