How a missed call led to 3 deaths

Sindhu Kannan | TNN | Updated: Nov 25, 2017, 06:25 IST



CHENNAI: He missed the first call from his brother. By the time he got the second call, their Innova was in a pit after plunging down from the top of an unfinished flyover in Red Hills.

While Ayyappan and driver Kandavel managed to get out of the car, Ayyappan's wife Pavithra, and her parents Palani and Navaneedham were not such lucky.

The family had set out from their Manimangalam residence in three cars to Minjur for a betrothal. They were returning home when the accident occurred.

Kandavel, who had been employed with Palani's family for the last two years, was unaware of the route and kept checking the google maps on his phone. But when it reached Outer Ring Road, he just took the flyover, instead of the service lane.

Those following them were also checking their phones and realised Kandavel had taken the wrong route. "Suspecting something amiss, Ayyappan's brother tried calling him," said M C Siva, a relative.

"He missed the first call. As soon as he attended the next call, the car had fallen," said Saravanan, another relative.

The eight relatives who are yet to recover from the shock of seeing the car plunge down ran to the pit and tried to break open the windows but in vain. Police soon arrived and with the help of a crane lifted out the car and broke open the doors.

Police said the car was air conditioned vehicle and most of the occupants were asleep. While the driver managed to escape from the front door, Ayyappan did so from the rear.

"Ayyappan tried to save his wife Pavithra who was seated in the rear seat along with him, but in vain and his in-laws were completely stuck as the air bags have opened," said Siva.