Ariyalur (TN) : Three members of a family, including a boy and his mother, were killed today when their two-wheeler was hit by an express train at a manned level crossing near here as the rider attempted to cross it disregarding warning by the gatekeeper, police said.
The tragedy occurred as the rider of the two-wheeler Annadurai with his wife, daughter and grandson in the pillion attempted to cross the track despite warning by the gatekeeper about the oncoming train at Senthurai, but got stuck in panic.
Annadurai, his daughter Amsavalli and grandson Satheesh were killed on the spot as the Guruvayur Express rammed into the two-wheeler while his wife managed to escape as she jumped down from the vehicle in time.
According to police, Annadurai, who was taking his sick grandson to a doctor, manoeuvred his two-wheeler through one side of closed bar-gate of the level crossing after asking the pillion riders to get off.
After crossing one side of the bar-gate, the pillion riders hurriedly got back on the seat even as the gatekeeper warned them not to cross the track as the train was fast approaching the place.
Following the accident, the train was held up for more than half an hour.
