Three bus passengers, including a woman, were killed when a lorry, which lost control, rammed the rear of a stationary Government transport town bus that was proceeding to Omalur on the Salem-Bangalore National Highway at Kuppur early on Saturday.
Six others, including the crew, sustained injuries and have been admitted to hospital.
The police said the town bus had halted at the Kuppur bus stop when the lorry carrying a biscuit consignment from Bangalore and going to Tuticorin rammed the vehicle.
The dead were identified as M. Murugan (40) of Kottakoundanpatti, S. Sidhayan (55) of Gangayalur near Omalur and a 60-year old woman who died on the way to hospital and was yet to be identified.
Four others A. Mannanthan of Kamalapuram, R. Perumal of Nalukalpalam, S. Chellappan of Pannapattipudur and Kantharubi have been admitted to Salem Government Medical College Hospital.
The bus crew were treated at the Omalur Government Hospital.
