CHENNAI: A bike taxi rider and his customer who was riding pillion died after their bike was rammed by a speeding car near Chromepet in the wee hours of Monday. The police are now hunting for the driver of the car that was involved in the hit-and-run incident.
The deceased was identified as Paulraj (48) of Tiruvallur, was working as a bike taxi rider, said the police.
According to officials, the incident happened around 2.40 am on Monday. Paulraj had picked up the passenger, Balamurugan (22), who booked the bike taxi from Tambaram Sanatorium railway station. From there, the duo proceeded towards Chromepet. When they were on the National Highway near Chromepet, a speeding car, which was allegedly out of control, rammed the bike, throwing both Paulraj and Balamurugan off the vehicle.
Such was the impact that Balamurugan suffered severe head injuries and died on the spot. Paulraj sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to Chromepet government hospital. As his condition worsened, he was later referred to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai. However, he succumbed to his injuries around 9 am, said the police.
After hitting the two-wheeler, the driver of the car did not stop to help the injured, and instead sped away from the spot. The Chromepet traffic investigation police have registered a case and are checking the CCTV footage from the area to identify the car and nab its driver.