3 killed in bike-van collision

Madurai: A two-wheeler collided head-on with a van near Karumathur in Madurai, killing three people, including a seven-year-old girl, on Saturday.The deceased were identified as Rajaguru, 27, a construction worker from Karumathur, his niece Pramila, 7, and neighbour, Sangeetha, 29.According to police, Rajaguru has been raising Pramila, daughter of his elder brother, due to family circumstances. On Saturday night, as the girl fell ill, Rajaguru was taking her to a hospital on his motorcycle, with Sangeetha riding pillion to assist. When they neared Karumathur around 7.15 pm, a van proceeding from Madurai to Usilampatti with workers from a textile unit took a right turn on the Madurai–Theni main road. The two-wheeler collided head-on with the van, throwing all three of them to the road side.Rajaguru died on the spot, while the girl died later in the night in hospital. The woman was initially rushed to Usilampatti Govt Hospital with serious injuries. She was later shifted to Govt Rajaji Hospital in Madurai where she succumbed to injuries on Sunday morning. Checkanurani police registered a case against van driver Pandi, 43, and further investigation is underway.