Three passengers, including a couple, died in an accident involving a minivan and two tanker lorries near Chengapalli along Salem-Coimbatore National Highway on Saturday (July 18). The deceased were passengers in the van.

According to police, the minivan was proceeding towards Udhagamandalam from Thiruthani with eight passengers. The van was hit in the rear while it was overtaking a lorry and then collided with another lorry moving in the opposite direction.

Police identified the deceased as Vijay (30), his wife Thenmozhi (26), and a family friend, Kumar (36). While Vijay and Kumar died on the spot, Thenmozhi succumbed to injuries while being rushed to the Government Hospital in Uthukuli. Two other passengers were undergoing treatment at the GH.

The Uthukuli police shifted the bodies to the Government Erode Medical College and Hospital in Perundurai for post-mortem examinations.

The couple’s six-year-old daughter Subashree and two other passengers were undergoing treatment at a private hospital; they were in a critical condition. The Uthukuli police have registered a case.

Published - July 18, 2026 07:24 pm IST