CHENNAI: A speeding car lost control and crashed into a pavement in Teynampet late on Wednesday, killing a 40-year-old worker and injuring three others. The driver, identified as Ahmed (52), a manager at a private courier company, has been arrested by the Pondi Bazaar Traffic Investigation Wing.
The deceased, Babu, a resident of Nandanam SM Nagar, was sitting in a tea shop on the pavement when the out-of-control vehicle veered onto the platform and struck him, killing him on the spot. His colleagues—Ritesh (45), Vikram (28), and Tarun Solanki (31)—sustained injuries and were rushed to a private hospital.
Ahmed, a resident of Poonamalee, has been detained for reckless driving and negligence. Preliminary investigations have ruled out alcohol influence, said the police.
Babu, an employee at a decorative glass lights store, had just finished his tea break when the car struck him.
Authorities are scrutinising CCTV footage from the area to determine the exact cause of the crash, as the driver claimed mechanical failure.
Babu, a father of two, had worked at the decorative lights store for over a decade.
The injured workers are stable and undergoing treatment for fractures and trauma.
Police have registered a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to rash driving, negligence causing death, and endangerment.
“Strict action will be taken against reckless drivers, especially in crowded areas,” emphasised a senior police official. The incident has reignited calls for better traffic enforcement and pedestrian safety measures near commercial hubs like Teynampet.