Indian student killed in fatal collision in Leeds

AN Indian student was killed in a fatal road traffic collision in Leeds last week.

Athira Anilkumar Laly Kumari, 28, from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was pronounced dead at the scene at the junction of Stanningley road and Cockshott Lane in Leeds on Wednesday (22).

According to reports, Athira, who was waiting at the bus stop, suffered serious injuries in the collision, which involved a black Volkswagen Golf and caused damage to the bus stop.

Another pedestrian, a man in his forties, was also injured in the accident. Police said that he is continuing to recover in hospital.

The Golf driver, a 25-year-old woman, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has since been released on bail as enquiries continue into the collision.

West Yorkshire Police said: “On Wednesday, police were informed by the ambulance service of a road traffic collision at the junction of Stanningley Road and Cockshott Lane, Leeds where injuries were reported.

“Emergency services attended and found that two pedestrians had suffered serious injuries following the collision, which involved a Volkswagen Golf car and caused damage to a bus stop.

“One of these, a woman, was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene. The second person, a man in his forties, was taken to hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

“The Golf driver, a 25-year-old woman, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving."

Athira, who lived at Armley Road, started her studies at Leeds Beckett University in January 2023.

Leeds Malayalee Association officials have said that the Indian High Commission in London has passed over the case to the Indian Consulate in Birmingham.

The association said that relatives have been informed and they are working to bring the dead body, which is kept in the Bradford hospital mortuary, home.

Athira’s husband Rahul Sekhar is in Oman. She is from Thonakkal, Mangalapuram, near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district. The couple have a one-year-old daughter, Yamika.

Athira is the daughter of Anil Kumar and Laly. Her younger brother is working as an IT professional in Kerala.