Auto driver abandons injured man as he dies

CHENNAI: An autorickshaw driver, who hit a pedestrian at Tiruvallur and tried to rush him to a hospital last week, abandoned the injured man by the roadside when he realised he had died in the autorickshaw. The incident came to light on Sunday, when police checked CCTV footage to trace the vehicle which hit Kuberan, 40, who was found dead with injuries on Thozhur Bajanai Koil Street on Jan 24. Poonamallee traffic investigation police, who recovered the body, confirmed it was a case of hit and run. They checked CCTV footage to locate the vehicle that caused the accident and found an autorickshaw driver taking the accident victim in his vehicle. Police traced the vehicle and found it belonged to Murugan of Abirami Gardens, Veppampattu. Police detained Murugan for questioning and found that he had knocked down the pedestrian who was crossing the road at Veppampattu.Kuberan suffered severe injuries on his head. Police quoted the driver as saying that he tried to shift the accident victim to Tiruvallur Government Hospital, but he died on the way. Murugan told police that he was scared to alert anyone and abandoned the body on the roadside near Thozhur and left. Police booked the driver for causing death due to negligence and seized his vehicle.