Bangalore student killed in mishap, mother injured

Hemamalini, a widow, on Wednesday witnessed her only child being crushed to death under a Tempo Traveller on 100ft Road in BTM Layout.

Identifying the child as M Reethu, 14, police said she was a ninth standard student of Baldwin School on Richmond Road.

Hemamalini was taking Reethu to school from their residence in BTM Layout second stage when the Tempo rammed into the scooter from behind around 7.45 am.

The police said the accident happened just before the Jayadeva Hospital flyover. It has been believed that Hemamalini had slowed down the scooter before entering the Hosur Road.

The mother and daughter were thrown off the two-wheeler on impact of the collision. The police said, quoting witnesses, that the girl was caught under the wheels of the Tempo, which dragged her a few feet along the road.

Hemamalini escaped with minor injuries. Reethu was rushed to KIMS Hospital, where the doctors declared her “dead on arrival.”
Reethu’s friends remembered her as a bright and active student.
Hemamalini’s husband Dr Mohan Raj had passed away a few years ago due to health problems.

Later in the day, Hemamalini received her daughter’s body from KIMS, after a post-mortem examination.

The Mico Layout police, who registered a case, said the Tempo driver had abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene soon after the accident.

The police said they had seized the Tempo Traveller and were searching for the absconding driver.

The vehicle was ferrying empty bottles, the police said.