A private bus driver suffered a heart attack and died at the wheel at St Thomas Mount on Wednesday, but managed to save the lives of his 13 passengers — the crew members of a private airline.
The police said C Sampath (48) of Perambur, who worked for a bus operator, left the airport with 13 passengers to a hotel on Radhakrishnan Salai. When the vehicle neared Alandur, Sampath complained to cleaner Chandrasekaran of chest pain. He had some water before resuming the journey.
When the bus approached Kathipara, he collapsed and died after stopping the bus and saving the passengers. The police rushed to the spot and sent his body to a hospital.
The police said Sampath had earlier requested Chandrasekaran to accompany him to a doctor later as he had not been feeling well and had chest pain.