Madurai, Aug 3
Five persons, including a three-year-old girl, were killed and two others seriously injured in a horrific multiple-vehicle collision near Melur in Madurai district on Monday after a car lost control, crossed the median and crashed head-on into another vehicle.
The accident occurred on the Thumbaipatti four-lane road overbridge along the National Highway when a car carrying a group from Chennai was proceeding towards Tirunelveli.
Police said the car initially rammed into a two-wheeler travelling ahead while crossing the flyover. Following the impact, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which swerved across the median and entered the opposite carriageway.
The car then collided head-on with another vehicle travelling from Madurai towards Tiruchy. The force of the collision left the vehicles badly damaged and five occupants of the Chennai car died on the spot.
Four of the deceased were identified as Sriman of Madipakkam in Chennai, Rajakumari, Ranja and three-year-old Pranika. They were reportedly members of the same family. Police were yet to establish the identity of the fifth victim who was travelling with them.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel, Melur police and 108 ambulance teams rushed to the scene after receiving information about the accident and carried out rescue operations.
Two persons trapped in the damaged vehicles were rescued with grievous injuries and shifted to the Melur Government Hospital. One of them had been travelling in the car from Chennai, while the other was an occupant of the vehicle heading towards Tiruchy.
The bodies of the five victims were recovered from the wreckage and sent to the government hospital for post-mortem examination.
The accident disrupted traffic on the busy highway for some time before police removed the damaged vehicles and restored movement.
Melur police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.
