Three persons died and two others grievously injured when an overspeeding long-distance private travels bus hit an SUV at Penubolu in Anantapur district in the early hours of Monday.

According to Ramagiri Circle Inspector of Police, the bus proceeding from Bengaluru to Hyderabad at breakneck speed hit the van going to Daduluru Parsa (festival) in which five persons from Bengaluru were travelling.

While two persons died on the spot, at 1 a.m., one of the three injured, while being shifted to a hospital in Anantapur, died. Condition of the two others is said to be stable.

The deceased were identified as Ramakrishna, 50, Ganesh, 35 and Lakshmaiah, 45. Police registered a case and are investigating.