Chennai: Destiny had been very determined. Professional car racer Ashwin Sundar and his wife, Niveditha had decided to take a last spin in their two-seater racing BMW car before they were to sell it by Monday.
Their outing at Leela Palace, MRC Nagar, was perfect, as Niveditha was planning to leave for her native Sri Lanka in the next couple of days. However, fate had different plans.
“He was all set to sell the vehicle. All the procedures were being followed,” said Sasi, a family friend. The air at the 4th Main Road of Ashta Lakshmi Nagar, Alapakkam, was filled with grief and shock, as the bodies reached their residence at around 4 pm on Saturday evening.
Friends, relatives and neighbours thronged Ashwin’s residence, reverberating with inconsolable sobs. “We are yet to accept the truth that he is no more. Santhome High Road was his favourite road and he knew everything about the road. He was excellent when it came to controlling the vehicle,” said Nirmal, the racer’s friend, who lives in the neighbourhood.
Ashwin, who was the only son, was born after many years of his parents’ marriage, said a relative. Slamming the rumours stating that the racer was drunk, Nirmal said, “The 27-year-old had never touched alcohol. He was addicted to racing and nothing else.”
The couple had gotten married in February 2016, after being in love for a brief period. The abrupt and tragic end to their lives is very hard to digest, said Ashwin’s friends.
Reminiscent of Paul Walker crash
The death of Fast and Furious star Paul Walker that sent shock waves across the Hollywood in 2013 has some similarities with Ashwin Sundar’s fatal crash. Walker died at the age of 40 when his Porsche Carrera crashed and burst into flames in California. His driver (Roger Rodas) lost control of the vehicle, which careered into trees and a concrete lamppost, killing both men. Both their bodies were charred.
In September 2015, Walker’s daughter filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Porsche, claiming that the car had numerous design defects including a history of instability, and that seat belt placement can cause harm upon impact. The case is still pending at the Los Angeles superior court.
