COIMBATORE: One died, and over 20 were injured after a private omnibus collided with a lorry laden with cement on the Salem-Chennai National Highway near Vazhapadi in Salem on Friday early morning.
Police said the bus, with 33 passengers, was bound to Cochin in Kerala from Chennai when it rammed into the moving lorry at a flyover near Vazhapadi at around 3 am.
Police said Rajiv Gandhi (38), alias Padayappa, from Mel Kondanur village in Thirukovilur Taluk of Villupuram district, who was behind the wheels was trapped between the damaged omnibus and the lorry. The additional driver and over 20 passengers sustained severe injuries in the crash.
On receiving information, the police from Vazhapadi and Yethapur stations, along with fire and rescue personnel from Vazhapadi, rushed to the spot and carried out the rescue operations.
The injured were shifted by ambulances to Vazhapadi Government Hospital and later to other hospitals for further treatment.
In a heart-wrenching scene, the driver, trapped and gravely injured, cried out for help as rescuers attempted to free him. It took over an hour for the rescue personnel to retrieve him; he succumbed to injuries by then.
The ghastly mishap led to traffic disruption on the Salem-Chennai National Highway for over an hour. The Yethapur police have registered a case, and further inquiries are on.