Four, including 9-year-old boy, killed in van-lorry collision

RAMANATHAPURAM

Four persons, including a nine-year-old boy, were killed and 14 others, including seven children, were injured when a van collided head-on with a sand-laden lorry at Thirupalaikudi in the district on Tuesday.

Police said the victims from Thengaipattinam and Colachel in Kanniyakumari district were on a pilgrimage to Velankanni when the accident occurred around 5 a.m. The van driver lost control of the vehicle, which dashed against the lorry, proceeding to Ramanathapuram from Kattumannarkoil in Pudukottai district, after overtaking a vehicle.

The deceased were van driver J. John Blesses (24) and three members of a family – A. Punitha (32), A. Pushparaj (36) and his son P. Rifan (9).

The injured were admitted to Government District Headquarters Hospital here. In all, 17 persons – six men, including the driver, eight children and three women – were travelling in the van. The lorry driver was also injured, the police said.

Collector S. Natarajan visited the injured at the hospital and asked the doctors to provide them the best medical assistance. Hospital Superintendent Jawahar said all the injured suffered fractures. Darshini (7) and cleaner of the van R. Ajis (17), who suffered head injuries, had been referred to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, he said.

This was the second major accident in the district in the last four days. Three persons were killed and 16 others injured in a van-car collision at Thangachimadam on Saturday.