Cop on bike hits pothole, run over by Corpn truck

CHENNAI: A head constable was run over by a Corporation garbage truck after he lost control of his two-wheeler when the vehicle ran into a pothole, on Wednesday night.

The deceased, Palani Kumar (44), was a resident of St Thomas Mount Police Quarters in Alandur. A 2003-batch official, Palani was attached to the Vyasarpadi police station and working as a level-II intelligence cop for MKB Nagar and Vyasarpadi police station.

Around 11.45 pm on Wednesday, Palani was heading to Vyasarpadi from MKB Nagar on his two-wheeler. Near SM Nagar, he lost balance after his bike entered a pothole and fell on the road. A speeding Corporation garbage truck that was coming from Kodungaiyur towards Vyasarpadi ran over him, leaving him dead on the spot. The Kilpauk traffic investigation police registered a case and arrested the lorry driver, A Francis (52) of Kodambakkam. Palani’s body was handed over to his kin after post-mortem examination.

A native of Madurai, Palani Kumar grew up in an orphanage. He is survived by his wife Vimala and three daughters. Additional Commissioner (North) R Dhinakaran and Joint Commissioner (West) B Vijayakumari paid last respects to Palani’s mortal remains.