In a road accident, a family of three from Kerala were killed on the spot and another one was battling for life at Chittoor Hospital, when a lorry collided with their SUV at Skybird Point between Puthalpattu and Kothakota, 20 k.m. from here in the early hours of Sunday.
According to Pakala circle police, the family from Thrissur in Kerala were on their way to Tirumala for darshan of Lord Venkateswara. Half an hour after they had crossed into Chittoor District headquarters town from TN border, the mishap took place. A sand laden lorry from Nellore collided with the SUV.
The deceased were identified as Santosh (44), his wife Asha (40), elder son Hari (16). The younger son Aasan (10) was rushed to the Government Hospital at Chittoor, where his condition is said to be serious. The police said that deceased Santosh was working as District Medical Officer at Thrissur in Kerala, while his spouse was also a government employee there.
The bodies were shifted to area hospital for autopsy. Their relatives were informed about the tragedy. The lorry driver responsible for the mishap went absconding abandoning the vehicle.
Traffic on the busy Puthalapattu-Naidupeta highway was affected for a couple of hours, which was later restored by Pakala and Puthalapattu police.
