Five persons, including a councillor of the Tiruchi Municipal Corporation and her son, were killed while 12 persons were injured when an omnibus from Chennai to Tiruchi rammed a stationary omnibus, (also on its way to the same destination) in the early hours of Tuesday on the NH 45, near Padalur, about 12 km from here.
Parked by roadside
According to the police, the omnibus from Chennai to Tiruchi driven by Dhanagopl, 29, suffered a puncture near the Alathur railway gate at about 5 a.m.
It was parked on the roadside for changing the tyre.
At about 5.45 a.m., another omnibus, driven by Sathyamurthy, 31, rammed the stationary vehicle, pushing the vehicle about 50 feet away. It hit a culvert in the vicinity, killing five passengers.
Four of the victims were sitting on the culvert as the tyre was being changed.
They include Amudha, 52, a councillor of the Tiruchi Municipal Corporation, son Anand, 23, Perumal of Tambaram Sanatorium, 55, and his wife Amaravathi, 45, Vasuki, 23. Palani, died on the way to hospital.
The injured have been referred to the Government Hospital, Tiruchi.
Driver Sathyamurthy, who suffered minor injuries, was arrested and the Padalur police have registered a case.
