A 50-year-old man was killed and his friend was seriously injured after an autorickshaw overturned at a bend on the Kattakada-Malayinkeezhu road near Kollode late on Saturday night, police said. The accident occurred at around 11.45pm while the vehicle was travelling from Kattakada towards Malayinkeezhu.
The deceased was identified as Rajesh Kumar, 50, a resident of Kurakonam near Kandala Post in Maranalloor village. His friend and neighbour, Shin, 30, suffered serious chest and head injuries and is undergoing treatment at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, according to Kattakada police.
Police said the autorickshaw overturned after its driver made a sudden turn at the Kollode bend. The police stated that the vehicle was being driven in a rash and negligent manner, allegedly endangering the lives of the passengers.
Kumar suffered serious head injuries in the crash and later died. Police and fire and rescue services personnel from Kattakada carried out rescue operations at the scene. The incident adds to the risks faced by passengers using autorickshaws and other vehicles on roads where bends require controlled speeds and careful driving, although police have not released further details about the condition of the road or the vehicle.
Kumar’s body was shifted for postmortem and was later handed over to his relatives. Kattakada Police have registered a case in connection with the accident and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
