5 of family killed in accident in Madurai

Madurai: Five members of a family, including three women, were killed after their car crashed into the parapet wall of a bridge at Ayyapatti near Melur in Madurai on Sunday evening.The deceased were identified as Venkadesh, 62, of Choolaimedu in Chennai, his mother Vasandha, 90, wife Asha, 58, her mother Sulakshana, 72, and Asha's younger sister's husband Prakash, 76, from Anna Nagar in Madurai. Police said the family had gone to Trichy Samayapuram Mariyamman temple to offer prayers.The accident happened as they were returning around 5.15pm. They were nearing Ayyanpatti bridge when the speeding car suddenly lost control and hit the parapet wall near the entrance of the bridge. All five occupants, including the driver, died on the spot. The impact was so severe that the front portion of the vehicle was completely mangled.Police and fire and rescue service personnel from Kottampatti fire station reached the spot and recovered the bodies from the mangled remains, and sent them to Melur Govt Hospital for autopsy. Police said Venkadesh and Prakash were seated in the front, but it is not known who drove the vehicle. The road has no history of accidents and the driver could have dozed off, they said. Kottampatti police have registered a case and are investigating.