MADURAI: Three persons were killed in an accident, which occurred at Palayampatti junction near Aruppukottai on Madurai-Thoothukudi Highway bypass in Virudhunagar district on Thursday.

The fatal accident happened at around 4 am, when a lorry laden with pipes bound for Thoothukudi seaport from Coimbatore, collided head-on with a container truck hauling large quantities of paper and garments to Karur from Thoothukudi, sources said.

The deceased victims were identified as Jeyamurugan (47), the truck driver from Korampallam, Thoothukudi and Muthuraj alias Ajith Kumar (28), the lorry driver from Kottaiyur village, Watrap, Virudhunagar and Rajathurai (26), a cleaner from Tiruthangal, Sivakasi, sources said.

Aruppukottai ASP S Madhivanan and Aruppukottai Town Inspector of Police T Balamurugan inspected the accident site. After enquiring, the Inspector said the lorry was driven in the wrong direction, which ultimately ended up in the collision.

The accident left the vehicles mangled that the bodies had to be removed in pieces. An earthmover was engaged at the accident site to remove the wreckage, Balamurugan said. Based on a complaint, Aruppukottai Town police filed a case.