Two Docs Among 3 Killed as Car Crashes into Tree

TIRUNELVELI: Three persons, two of them doctors, were killed and three others injured when the car in which they were travelling crashed into a wayside tree at Courtallam on Thursday.According to police sources, Dr Ragukumaran (29) of Devathanam, near Rajapalayam in Virudunagar district and vice-chairman of Puliyangudi municipality, had come to Nainaragaram near Tenkasi on Wednesday night to attend a friend’s wedding.He was accompanied by doctors Karthick (25) of Ezhil Nagar in Madurai, Ragu (28) Patchaimadam in Rajapalayam and Dinesh (27) of Jeeva Nagar, Bodi.After staying at a gas agency godown owned by Ragukumaran’s relative, they left for Old Courtallam to take a bath in the falls, in the early hours on Thursday. Ragukumaran was at the wheel of his Honda City car, in which Karthick, Dinesh, Ragu, gas agency worker Chinnasami (40) and gas agency driver Esakimuthi (29) of Nanagaram, were travelling.  As the car neared Courtallam from Old Courtallam road, Ragukumaran lost control of the wheel crashed into a tree. In the impact, Ragukumaran, Karthick and Chinnasami were killed on the spot. The injured - Esakimuthu, Ragu and Dinesh - were admitted to various hospitals. Courtallam police registered a case. Sources said Dr Ragukumaran was the son of former Rajapalayam MLA Dhanuskodi and son-in-law of AIADMK MLA Duraiappa.