A 62-year-old woman was killed after being hit by a car while crossing the East Coast Road near Palavakkam in Chennai, according to a report by the Times of India, which said police later arrested the vehicle owner and seized the car. The report also described delays in shifting the woman and in the arrival of police at the scene. The timing of the incident requires confirmation because the supplied publication metadata is dated 25 October 2026, while the intake record was generated on 24 October 2026.
The woman, identified as R Krishnaveni of Neelankarai, was reportedly crossing the road at around 10pm to dispose of garbage when the car struck her. The vehicle allegedly fled the scene after the collision. Passersby called an ambulance, but the medical crew reportedly declined to transport Krishnaveni, saying she was already dead.
According to the report, the response triggered anger among her relatives and local residents, who blocked the road. Residents alleged that police did not reach the location even an hour after the crash. A team from the Adyar traffic investigation police station subsequently reached the site and held discussions with the protesters.
The incident highlights two separate operational questions in the handling of serious road crashes: how quickly emergency medical teams and police reach the scene, and how effectively investigators identify a vehicle that leaves after a collision. The supplied report does not establish whether Krishnaveni was declared dead at the location by an authorised medical professional or whether a post-mortem examination was conducted.
Police reportedly said the ambulance crew had not alerted them as required under procedure. A second ambulance was then called from Royapettah Government Hospital, causing a delay in moving the deceased from the scene. The account does not specify the length of the delay or identify the ambulance service involved.
Following their inquiry, police identified the car and arrested its owner, Manikandan, a restaurateur from Madambakkam. The vehicle was seized as part of the investigation. The report does not state whether police have confirmed who was driving the car at the time of the collision, what charges have been filed, or whether the accused was produced before a court.
The case places attention on the risks faced by pedestrians along the ECR, a major corridor that combines residential neighbourhoods, commercial activity and high-speed traffic. In this instance, the reported need to cross the road to dispose of household waste also raises questions about the location and accessibility of civic services, although the supplied material does not provide details about nearby crossings, street lighting, footpaths, garbage collection points or traffic-calming measures.
Further confirmation is required on the incident date, the driver’s identity, the charges invoked, the medical and police response timelines, and the findings of the investigation. The next reported step is the continuation of the police inquiry following the arrest and seizure of the vehicle.
