Four of family killed as SUV collides with tempo traveller in Coimbatore

Tirupur: Four members of a family were killed and 12 others injured after a sports utility vehicle (SUV) collided with a tempo traveller near Madathukulam here in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to police, the incident occurred when Thiyagarajan, 45, a used car dealer from Indira Nagar in Palani in Dindigul district, was returning home along with his family members in the SUV after attending a relative's funeral at Kinathukadavu in Coimbatore.
"While travelling on the new bypass road at Karuppusamy Pudur near Madathukulam, the SUV collided with the tempo traveller that was coming from the opposite direction with 23 passengers from Palakkad in Kerala on board. Thiyagarajan, his wife Preethi, 40, and son Jaya Priyan, 11, were killed on the spot. His mother Manonmani, 65, was rushed to the govt hospital at Udumalai. But she later succumbed to her injuries," a police officer said.
He said Thiyagarajan's father Natrayan, 75, and elder son Jeevapriyan, 12, were battling for their lives at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, where the duo are undergoing treatment.
The officer said both vehicles were travelling on the same lane because of the ongoing road work. "That's the main reason for the collision. The SUV was badly damaged in the incident. The tempo traveller was heading to Kerala after taking a group of pilgrims to Palani. Twelve passengers in the tempo traveller sustained minor injuries in the incident. They were provided first aid at the govt hospital at Udumalai. They later left for their hometown."
The Madathukulam police have registered a case and are inquiring into the incident. In response to the incident, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a solatium of 2 lakh to each family of the deceased and 1 lakh for those who are seriously injured and receiving treatment in the hospital.