2 killed as MUV rams crash barrier near Manachanallur

TRICHY: Two women were killed and seven others injured after the multi-utility vehicle (MUV) in which the victims were travelling rammed a crash barrier on the Trichy-Namakkal highway near Manachanallur in the early hours of Saturday.
Police sources said that a family of nine, all hailing from Mettur in Salem district were heading to Velankanni in Nagapattinam district to visit the Our Lady of Health shrine basilica.
At about 2.30am on Saturday, Felix Antony who was driving the vehicle attempted to overtake a truck going ahead at Maanpidimangalam village near Manachanallur. However, the vehicle slid from the carriageway and rammed a crash barrier positioned along the banks of Ayyanvaikal canal.
Police said in the impact the barrier pierced through the front and rear glass panes of the MUV leaving two women - Stella Jayanthi, 32, wife of Antony and Emalda Juliet, 40, wife of Arul Raj dead on the spot.
On information, the Manachanallur police rescued the injured occupants from the mangled remains of the car and rushed them to the Trichy government hospital and a private hospital in the city.
The Manacahanallur police have registered a case and are investigating. Police have urged the public to avoid midnight travel as travelling on highways in such hours is the most vulnerable to fatal accidents. “It is wise to skip travelling on highways between 12am and 5am. Fatigue of driver and overspeeding may cause fatal accidents during such odd hours,” a police officer said.