Seven persons were killed and one person was grievously injured when a van in which they were travelling collided head on with an iron scrap-laden truck near Palani in the early hours of Wednesday.
The deceased were identified as Sasi, 62, of Korithottai village in Kottaiyam district in Kerala; his wife Vijiammal, 60; his grandson Abhijit, 17; his neighbours Suresh, 62; Manu, 27; Sajina, 52; and Lekha, 50, wife of Suresh.
While four persons were killed on the spot, three others – Abhijit and Vijiammal and Sajina – succumbed to their injuries on their way to the hospital.
Adithyan, 12, undergoing treatment at the Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital, was critical, said doctors.
The police said that families of Sasi and Suresh were on their way to Palani for darshan . Suresh was driving the van.
When their van approached Sindhalavadanpatti village on the Dindigul-Palani Highway after midnight, it collided with a scrap-laden truck that was proceeding to Periyakulam.
In the impact, the van was crushed. Cranes and earth moving equipment were used to separate the damaged vehicles.
Lorry driver Iyappan of Thenkarai in Periyakulam block was arrested. Traffic was disrupted for one-and-a-half hours on the highway. The Chatrapatti police have registered a case.
