Ashwin Sundar, former national racing champion and his wife Nivedhita were burnt alive in the wee hours of Saturday following a car crash.
According to sources in Chennai Police, the racer’s over-speeding led to the crash and the subseuqent fire in the car.
The swanky BMW Z3 car in which 31-year-old Sundar and his doctor wife Nivedhita were returning home after a late night dinner hit a tree and caught fire on Santhome High Road, MRC Nagar, Chennai.
“He was driving the car at a high speed and lost control after hitting a speed breaker around 1.30 am. Before the car caught fire, it skidded around for a long time,” said one of the investigating officers.
The road was almost empty and the flaming car was spotted by a few youngsters who informed the police. Fire and rescue services personnel from Mylapore rushed to the spot but it took around half-an-hour to put out the flames.
later, the police broke open the car door and found the duo charred to death.
According to eyewitnesses, Sundar and his wife had been burnt alive even before the fire department and the police could reach the spot.
The burning of the car was streamed live on Facebook which instantly went viral on the social media.
Sources suspect that the BMW Z3, equipped with all kinds of safety features including six air bags, must have developed a snag in the fuel tank or air conditioner after the collision. The couple had got married in February last year. Nivedhita was from Sri lanka and her father runs a business here. Sundar hailed from Vellore and the family moved to the city to facilitate Sundar’s interest in racing.
Sundar had won an international championship in 2010-11. He won the national title in car racing and two-wheeler events on several occasions.
In 2006, he was adjudged Champion of Champions in India after winning the 115 CC 4-stroke and 150 CC 4-stroke titles. He had signed a deal with German racing team Ma-Con Motorsport and drove in the German Formula Volkswagen ADAC Championship in 2008.
As recently as in 2012 and 2013 he became the country’s undisputed F4 champion as well.
FMSCI president and former race driver Akbar Ebrahim wrote on his Twitter feed: “It’s a sad day for motor sports. I knew Ashwin since he was an infant and I saw him excel in all formats of the sport. May his and his wife’s soul rest in peace.”
Former Indian Formula One driver Karun Chandhok too expressed his shock and wrote on Twitter: “Very sad to hear this morning that the young Indian National racing champion Ashwin Sundar and his wife were killed in a road accident.#RIP”
FMSCI’s chairman - Two-wheeler Racing Commission and former national rallying champion co-driver Sujit Kumar said, “Ashwin was one of the best racing talent India has ever had, be it go karting,
bike racing or car racing. He was also a wonderful human being. I am fortunate to have spent a lot of time together, managing him during our Yamaha Racing days. My deepest condolences to his family.”
Badminton star Jwala Gutta was one of the most prominent athletes to express her condolences to Ashwin’s family.