The deceased were identified by police as Rakesh (40), from Kerala, Manivannan (52), from Coimbatore, both working in a private firm in Erode, and car driver Sanjith Kanna, 30, from Coimbatore. Police said the car attempted to overtake a lorry when its brakes reportedly failed, resulting in its collision with the rear of the lorry near Perumanallur on the Coimbatore-Salem National Highway.

Police said both Rakesh and Manivannan died on the spot, while the driver succumbed to injuries later without responding to treatment at Tirupur Government Hospital. Another car driven by Vignesh, a 19-year-old student, also rammed into their car. He is under treatment at Tirupur GH.