A 42-year-old woman and her two-year-old son died after being struck by a speeding vehicle while crossing a road in Koodal Pudur on Friday. Their 14-year-old daughter was critically injured and remains in intensive care.
Sharmila, a resident of Koodal Pudur who worked at a petrol station, was walking with her children Pagalbabu and Deepashri toward a bus stop to reach Arappalayam bus stand for travel to Salem. An unidentified vehicle hit the family at high speed in the early hours of Friday.
Sharmila sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Pagalbabu was rushed to hospital with severe head injuries but did not respond to treatment and later died. Deepashri was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition.
The Tallakulam Traffic Investigative Wing police have begun an inquiry into the incident. Local residents noted that accidents occur frequently in the area due to high vehicle speeds near a bus stop, school and market, and they have demanded the installation of speed breakers.