A driver of a State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) bus and a lorry cleaner died after the bus rammed the stationary lorry on Tiruchi-Madurai national highway under Thuvarankurichi police station limits in the early hours of Sunday. The police identified the deceased bus driver as S. Mathiazhagan, 54, of Tirunelveli and cleaner Ram Pravesh, 30, from Uttar Pradesh. The bus was on its way to Sankarankoil in Tirunelveli district from Chennai when the vehicle rammed the lorry. Police said the lorry carrying iron rods to Thoothukudi was stationed on the right side of the highway after it developed technical problems.
In the impact of the collision, Mathiazhagan died on the spot. Ram Pravesh, who was behind the goods carrier, also died. Six bus passengers sustained minor injuries. Lorry driver K. Periasamy, 48, of Veppanthattai in Perambalur district was arrested. Thuvarankurichi police have registered a case.
