Five persons were killed and six others seriously injured after a sand-laden lorry, going in the wrong direction, hit a private bus and two-wheeler near Sandhiyur on Salem – Namakkal National Highway here on Monday.
The accident took place when the lorry travelling from Tiruchi to Salem jumped the median and hit the Namakkal-bound bus from Salem, along with a two-wheeler. The front portion of the bus was completely damaged and two passengers — Kumar (30) and an unidentified woman — died on the spot. Also, the two-wheeler was caught under the lorry and dragged for few metres before it halted in the roadside pit.
Three members of a family from Kondalampatti — Raja (28), his wife Saroja (26) and their one-and-half year old daughter Dhanam — were crushed to death under the lorry.
The injured were taken to the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital in the city and are undergoing treatment. Collector K. Maharabushanam and Superintendent of Police R. Sakthivel inspected the spot.
Mallur police are investigating the accident. Initial inquiries indicate that the lorry driver could have slept at the wheel and lost control of the vehicle.
