Chennai Avadi police use ride hailing app data to crack hit & run case

Chennai: An autorickshaw trip that had abruptly ended midway, with the passenger later booking another ride, proved to be the vital clue that helped Avadi traffic police crack the fatal hit-and-run case of Selvam, 60, a morning walker from Thelliyar Agaram. Police arrested a 28-year-old auto driver by analysing ride-hailing app data and shortlisting 22 autorickshaws that passed through the stretch at the time of the accident. The accident occurred around 6am on Jan 27 near the newly built eco park at Chettiyar Agaram in Avadi. Selvam, a resident of Amman Koil Street, was stepping out of the park when an autorickshaw hit him from behind at high speed. He sustained severe head injuries. The driver fled the scene and fellow walkers rushed him to SRMC Hospital. Avadi traffic police registered a case and began an investigation. Selvam succumbed to his injuries on Jan 29. Though police managed to check 50 CCTV cameras along the stretch, there was no footage from the accident spot. Following this, a special team was formed, headed by deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) C Sangu. Investigators examined CCTV footage from adjoining and arterial roads. Police also questioned drivers at the nearby autorickshaw stand.Suspecting that a passenger might have booked a ride through a ride-hailing platform around the time of the accident, police turned to these apps. They collected trip data from different aggregators for vehicles that traversed the stretch during that time and shortlisted 22 autorickshaws for scrutiny. An investigating officer said that they noticed that one autorickshaw had deviated from its usual route and appeared to be driven in a hurried manner. The trip was abruptly ended midway, and records showed the passenger subsequently boarded another autorickshaw.Police traced and questioned the passenger, but could not gather any information about the accident. They traced the vehicle registration to R Santhosh, 28, a resident of Kattupakkam. He was identified as the driver involved in the fatal accident. He was arrested and remanded in judicial custody.