Two e-declaration freelance writers attached to the Commercial Taxes Department check-post at Aryankavu were killed on the spot when a cement laden truck lost control and went crashing into the shed from where the two worked. The tragedy happened at about 1.15 p.m.
The deceased were identified as Anil Kumar, 38, and Satheesh, 32, both natives of Aryankavu.
The police said that the driver of the truck, a native of Tamil Nadu, managed to escape from the scene soon after the accident.
Eyewitnesses said that at the time of the accident the truck driver was talking to someone over his mobile phone.
The truck bearing registration number TN 28 AM 2984 has been taken into custody by the Thenmala police.
Moving in neutral
The police said that it is suspected that at the time of the accident, the truck was moving in neutral.
This tactic is resorted to by many truck drivers who enter the State through that course of Aryankavu in order to save fuel by taking advantage of the steep slopes along the National Highway 744 stretch from Kottavasal to Aryankavu.
The trend had been causing several accidents in the area.
An examination of the truck that caused Sunday’s fatal accident showed that it also had a brake failure problem.
The bodies of the deceased were shifted to the mortuary of the Punalur taluk hospital and will be handed over to relatives after the autopsies on Monday.