By V. Srinivasan
Salem: Four people, including a girl, were killed in an accident where a lorry collided with two two-wheelers near Jalagandapuram. The Jalagandapuram police have arrested the lorry driver and are investigating.
A lorry loaded with coconuts was heading towards Dharamangalam at Silaudai village near Jalakandapuram in Salem district. The lorry was being driven by Katturaaja (31), when the lorry was crossing the footbridge near the Karudai Co-operative Society when it collided with two two-wheelers. Shanti (35), Balakrishnan, Yuvasree (one and a half years old) and Santosh (15) from Jalagandapuram died on the spot in this accident.
Both Vasantakumar (38) from Mettur and Indumati (23) from Edappadi, who were seriously injured in the accident, have been admitted to the intensive care unit of the Salem Government Hospital and are undergoing treatment.
On getting the information about the accident, Salem SP Sivakumar rushed to the spot, expedited the rescue work and directly investigated the cause of the accident. The first phase of investigation revealed that the truck driver who caused the accident may have been driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. The Jalakandapuram police have arrested the truck driver Katturaaja and are continuing the investigation.