Four killed as car rams stationary truck near Tuticorin

Tuticorin: Four of a family were killed after their car crashed into a stationary truck near Ettayapuram in Tuticorin district on Monday.The deceased were identified as Bhaskaran, 41, Vanitha, 40, Vasanthi, 39, and Palani, 51, who was driving the car. Three others — Premkumar, 41, Sandhiya, 12, and Pradeep Kumar, 10 — sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Tuticorin Govt Medical College Hospital.According to police sources, the group of seven left Chennai on Saturday to attend a private function in Trichy on Sunday. Following the event, they travelled further to Tiruchendur to offer prayers at the Subramanya Swamy temple.The accident occurred while they were returning to Chennai on the Tuticorin-Madurai national highway on Monday.As the car reached the M Kottur junction near Ettayapuram, it reportedly veered off the lane and rammed into the rear of a truck parked on the roadside. The impact was so severe that the front portion of the car was completely mangled, trapping the occupants inside.Locals alerted the police, who rushed to the scene and retrieved the bodies from the wreckage. The deceased were shifted to the Ettayapuram govt hospital for autopsy.A case has been registered by Ettayapuram police. Further investigation is underway to determine the cause of the mishap.