TIRUCHY: Two persons died on the spot while one sustained severe injury after their van hit a retaining wall on the highway in Thanjavur on Monday.

It is said, on Sunday night, Kaliraj (26) from Boothalur, along with Arun Kumar (22) from Pillayarpatti in Thanjavur and Sathish Kannan (40) from Marungulam, were returning from Tiruvannamalai with a broiler chicken-laden van to Thanjavur.

Sathish Kannan was driving the van. When they were nearing the Thanjavur-Pattukkottai bypass, Sathish Kannan had reportedly dozed off and the van hit a retaining wall of a highway bridge, killing Kaliraj and Arunkumar, while Sathish Kannan sustained severe injuries.

On information, Thanjavur Taluk police, along with the public, retrieved the bodies and sent them to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. A case was registered.