5 killed, 14 injured in private bus-van collision in Theni

The victims were returning after attending a family function in Bodi when a rashly-driven bus collided with the van they were travelling on, police said. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the driver of the bus, which was heading to Bodi, was attempting to overtake a share autorickshaw when it hit the van.

In the impact of the collision, four passengers suffered grievous injuries and died on the spot, while the other victim was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. Fourteen passengers who suffered injuries have been admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Theni. The condition of one of them is critical, police said. A few passengers on the bus, too, suffered injuries police said.

Angry over the accident that allegedly happened because of rash driving by the bus driver, some of the people who had gathered there pelted stones at the vehicle. Two of them were picked up by local police, said Theni district Superintendent of Police V Baskaran, who came to the accident spot and held inquiries.

The deceased persons were identified as Vetriarasan (50) of Allinagaram, Theni; Petchiammal (70), wife of Palsamy; S Sitrarasan (53), Saraswathi (65) and Leena (10) of Madurai. Among these, Leena died at the hospital, sources said. The PC Patti police are yet to file a case in connection with the accident, sources added.