Drunk van driver leaves three dead

Jan 20: Three people including two women died and one person was injured when a drunk driver lost control of a van and the vehicle ploughed into them at Mugalivakkam on Thursday. The police said the victims were waiting to board a bus to Porur at 5.30 am when the mishap took place.According to reports, the speeding van, which was proceeding to Sriperumbudur from Chennai airport, hit Saraswathi, 45, Janaki, 60, and her daughter Uma Maheshwari, 45, at the bus stop. The vehicle then hit a pedestrian, Gopalan, of Mangala Nagar in Porur, who was out on a morning walk.While Saraswathi died on the spot, Janaki and Gopalan died of their injuries at the Government General Hospital, the police said. Uma Maheshwari, who sustained serious injuries in the mishap, is said to have lost her husband a week ago. Her condition is said to be critical. Her mother Janaki and relative Saraswathi were reportedly going with Uma to her house in Porur.The police arrested van driver Kasilingam, 49, of Thiruvannamalai. In another mishap at Maduravoyal Thursday morning, a mini auto ran amok and hit a four members of a family waiting to board a bus. The three-wheeler rammed into a teashop before coming to a halt, the police said.While Dhandapani of Iyyapan Nagar was killed on the spot, his wife Jaya, 48, daughter Dhanalakshmi, 35, and his granddaughter Shalini, 12, who were seriously injured have been admitted to Government General Hospital. The cops arrested lorry driver Karim, 30, of Arumbakkam. The Poonamallee police registered a case and is investigating.

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