Three members of a family were killed when a speeding SUV hit the moped on which a couple and their son were riding back home on the Madurai-Rajapalayam highway at T. Kunnathur on Saturday night.
The police identified the deceased as G. Gurunathan (50), G. Vellaiyakkal (45) and G. Muthuirulandi (19) of T. Kunnathur.
The police said that the youth was riding the moped along with his parents.
As Vellaiyakkal was not well, the father and son had taken her to a private clinic at T. Kallupatti and were returning home at around 9:15 p.m.
The police said that the speeding SUV, that had probably attempted to overtake some vehicle, had come to the extreme right side of the Madurai-Rajapalayam Highway and knocked down the moped that was coming from the opposite side.
In the impact of the accident, all three were thrown away for over 15 feet and killed on the spot.
The police have arrested the car driver, A. Balamurugan (38) of Srivilliputtur who had fled the scene after abandoning the vehicle.
The bodies have been kept at the Government Hospital in Tirumangalam.
