Madurai: Five people from Chennai, including a three-year-old girl, were killed and two others sustained serious injuries after a car lost control, crossed the median and collided head-on with another vehicle near Melur in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district on Monday.

Car loses control after hitting two-wheeler

According to police, the accident occurred on the Thumbaipatti four-lane road overbridge on the National Highway. The car, carrying five people, was travelling from Chennai towards Tirunelveli when it first rammed into a two-wheeler moving ahead.

Following the collision, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which crossed the median and entered the opposite carriageway before crashing head-on into another car travelling from Madurai towards Tiruchy.

The impact of the collision was severe, leaving the Chennai-bound vehicle mangled and killing five occupants on the spot.

Victims identified, two injured

Police identified four of the deceased as Sriman, Rajakumari, Ranja, and three-year-old Pranika, all residents of Madipakkam in Chennai and members of the same family. The identity of the fifth victim, who was travelling with the family, is yet to be established.

Two people sustained grievous injuries in the crash. One was travelling in the Chennai-bound car, while the other was an occupant of the vehicle coming from Madurai. Both were shifted to Melur Government Hospital for treatment.

Rescue operation and investigation underway

Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services Department, Melur Police and the 108 ambulance service rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations. The bodies of the deceased were recovered from the wreckage and sent for post-mortem examination.

The accident caused heavy traffic congestion on the busy highway as rescue operations and damaged vehicles blocked the road for some time. Police later cleared the vehicles and restored traffic.

The Melur Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause and sequence of events leading to the fatal accident.