Chennai: In a shocking incident, M B Balakrishnan (29), a swimmer who participated in the Asian Games, died in a road mishap last night.
According to police, Balakrishnan who was riding on a two-wheeler came under the wheels of a ready mix lorry at EVR Salai, Arumbakkam.
Balakrishnan was riding a ‘Bullet’ and going from Arumbakkam to his house in Jayalakshmi Colony, Shenoy Nagar with a female friend pillion riding.
Police said he tried to overtake the lorry when his bike slightly touched it and he lost control of the vehicle. While he fell on the right side in front of the lorry and the front wheel ran over him, the friend who fell on to the left side, escaped unhurt. She had recently come to the city from USA. Police said he died on the spot.
His body was sent to Government Kilpauk Hospital for post mortem. Lorry driver Subramanian (32) of Villupuram was detained by police. Police said the accident was recorded in a CCTV camera at the spot.
Son of a doctor couple, Balakrishnan was an alumnus of Guindy Engineering College and he did his MS in the USA and was working there.
Balakrishnan was earlier in the news in 2010. A backstroke swimmer, he was a Commonwealth Games medal prospect at the age of 21 and weeks before the event he was attacked by unidentified assailants in the city. He was a gold medallist in the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka.