Bus mows down pedestrian while trying to avert collision

TRICHY: A TNSTC bus mowed down a woman pedestrian while trying to avert a collision with a speeding truck that came on the wrong side of the road in Tiruvarur on Tuesday morning. The bus then fell into a river near a bus stand at the area.
The deceased A Devi, 45, of Vanniyapuram, and her daughter A Jayapradha, 17, were walking on the road side when both of them were knocked down by a government bus. Devi was killed on the spot and Jayapradha sustained severe injury. Jayapradha was admitted to Tiruvarur Medical College Hospital for treatment. Sources said the bus was travelling towards Nannilam from Mannarkudi with many passengers when a speeding truck suddenly approached from the opposite direction on the wrong side of the road. The bus driver steered the bus off the road to avert collision with the truck, but failed to see the two pedestrians and knocked them down. The bus then plunged into Odampokki river.
Residents in the area came to the rescue of passengers in the bus. Meanwhile, fire and rescue service personnel also joined the rescue operation. Heavy downpour delayed the operation. Nine passengers were injured and were admitted to a government hospital.
The truck driver fled from the scene. Tiruvarur police registered a case and were on the lookout of the driver.