CHENNAI: Six people, including a woman and a 14-year-old boy, died when a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus they were travelling in hit a stationary truck near Dindigul on Monday morning.
Police identified four of the six deceased as Seeniammal, 65, of Kalladipatti near Nilakottai, Benedict Sanjay, 14, of Ammaiyanaickanur in Dindigul district, Somasundram, 37, of Srirangam and Narayanan, 40, of Sundarapandiam near Srivilliputhur. They were yet to identify the two other deceased.
Fifteen people sustained injuries in the accident. They were admitted to Dindigul Government Hospital for treatment.
The accident took place at Ammai Nagar near Chinnalapatti around 9am. A parcel service truck, which had a flat tyre, was stationed on the right lane meant for the fast moving vehicles.
The bus driver mistook the truck for a moving vehicle. He realised that it was stationary truck only at the last moment. He tried turning the vehicle towards left to avert collision.
However, the bus hit the truck. The passengers who were occupying the right side seats, particular window seats, became victims.
Police were searching for the bus driver, who escaped from the spot.
