Mother, two adult sons killed in car-lorry collision in Tirupur

Nine members of a family were retaurning from their home town Thiruvarur to Coimbatore, when the mishap happened around 6am. Police suspect the accident may have occurred due to poor visibility, following heavy fog. 

Police said Lalitha, 56, her two sons Rabeesh and Roopesh were returning with their wives and children in a car from their hometown Needamangalam in Thiruvarur district. While nearing Olapalayam at Vellakoil in Tirupur district, the car crashed into the cotton laden lorry. 

In the impact, Rabeesh and his mother Lalitha, 56 died on the spot, while Roopesh succumbed to the injuries on the way to hospital. The car, which was struck beneath the lorry, was removed using a JCB vehicle and trapped family members were extricated after a long struggle. The injured, identified as Veena, 30, wife of Rabeesh and their children, seven-year-old Abijesh, twoyear-old daughter Lakshmi and Sumathi, 32, wife of Roopesh and their children Dheeksitha, 7 and Dhiresh, 5, were rushed to the Kangeyam Government Hospital for treatment. 

After first aid, the injured persons were then sent to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for treatment. Meanwhile fire broke out in the fuel tank of the lorry and engulfed the entire vehicle.  The Vellakoil Fire and Rescue Services personnel rushed to the spot and doused the fire; however the vehicle was gutted completely. After preliminary inquiries, police suspect poor visibility due to fog to have resulted in mishap. Police have secured the lorry driver and further inquiries are on.