Lorry-bus collision kills four

CHENNAI: A tipper lorry smashed into a moffusil bus (T60) at Maraimalai Nagar, killing four people on the spot and injuring 13 others. Among the dead were the lorry driver and three bus passengers.
The bus was coming from Chengalpet to Tambaram when the lorry, coming in the opposite direction lost control and rammed the bus. Three of the injured are said to be in a critical condition.
The accident occurred around 6:30 pm opposite the Ford factory.The lorry driver, Subburaj (22) from Shankaran Koil Thirunelveli, Harish, a dentist from Adi Parasakthi Medical College, Ambattur, Ramadurai Iyer (45) from Singapermal Koil and an unidentified person are among those killed. The injured have been taken to the trauma ward of Chengalpet General Hospital.
The front wheels of the lorry came off in the impact of the collision. The entire front of the vehicle was mangled. There were 55 passengers in the bus when the accident happened.
The bus driver said the lorry abruptly changed course and came towards the bus. "The lorry hit the median, jumped over it and came straight to the bus. I had no time to react. The visibility was quite low," Thirumal told TOI.
Banu, a passenger from Chengalpet, said many passengers passed out after the accident. "As we were approaching the Ford stop, I heard a loud noise. I lost consciousness. The next thing I remember was myself in a hospital," she said.
North zone inspector general of police M Ramasubramaniam said a mechanical fault must have send the lorry out of control. "Or it could be a case of rash driving," he said after visiting the spot and patients in the hospital. "The doctors say all but one, Rathnakumari, have come out of critical conditions," said Kancheepuram superintendent of police Premanand Sinha. "Rathnakumari suffered severe head injuries, a fracture of the leg and she also has respiratory problems," said Dr Anand, duty doctor at Chengalpet General Hospital.
The injured are Deepasri (1) from Sunguvarchatram, Kanniapan (53) Sunguvarchatram, Jeeva (33) from Vandalur, Sumitha (22) from Tiruchi, Subiksha (25) from Kancheepuram, Valarmathi (21) from Vandalur, Kanniapan (42) from Tiruvallur, Arivalagan (27) from Thanjavur, Azhagi (35) from Uthiramerur, Sabapathi (45) from Chromepet, Balaji (21) from Vandalur and Nagamuthu (26) from Cheyyar.