CHENNAI: Two workers at a toll plaza died in an accident when a lorry hit the toll counter in the wee hours on Tuesday. “At around 2.30 am, a lorry carrying load, running from Vandalur to Madhavaram, hit one of the counters, leading to casualties,” said a traffic investigation police officer, who added the driver did not reduce speed as he approached the toll booth.
The lorry climbed over the speed breaker, ran over the divider, knocked down the cash counter from the front and came out on the other side.
“Most workers on night duty are contract workers from north India,” said another police officer, adding, “While Ramesh Kumar Thakkoda (24), a native of Odisha, died on the spot, the other three - Mani (53), Sandeep Shetty (32) and Nishmathusha (17) - were seriously injured and were admitted in the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital.”
Ramesh was taken to SRMC in Porur where he was declared brought dead. Around 7 pm on Tuesday, Nishmathusha died in the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital.
The Koyambedu traffic police arrested driver S Muthu (53) and remanded him. The police said that Muthu had fallen asleep while driving, resulting in the accident.