Lorry kills pregnant woman

Chennai: A pregnant woman was killed while her sister-in-law escaped with injuries after a rashly driven tipper lorry knocked down the two-wheeler they were riding on GST Road, near Chromepet, on Friday. The sand-laden truck that was going in the direction of Pallavaram, was being driven at high speed and rammed the scooter from behind near the D.G.Vaishnav college signal, the police said.

The deceased, B. Priyadarshini (25), was riding pillion on the scooter with her sister-in-law, Sivaranjini, riding the vehicle.

Around noon on Friday, they were returning from a hospital in Chromepet after a medical check-up when they met with the accident, the police said. In the impact, Priyadarshini who was thrown to the ground came under the rear wheels of the truck and suffered heavy loss of blood.

Locals rushed her to a nearby private hospital where doctors declared the foetus dead. Later in the day, around 6 pm, the woman succumbed to her injuries, the police said.

Sivaranjini escaped with injuries and is undergoing treatment. Priyadarshini’s body was moved to the Chromepet government hospital and handed over to the family members after an autopsy.

The police said the victim was a resident of Pachai Amman colony in Zamin Pallavaram and her husband Balasubramaniam worked in a private firm. “Investigations revealed that the lorry driver attempted to overtake the scooter when he hit the bike near the Vaishnav college signal,” a police officer said. The Chromepet traffic investigation wing registered a case and arrested driver Parthiban (23). He was remanded to Puzhal prison.