KADAPA: Five persons incluing a 10-year-old girl died and seven others were injured when a speeding lorry rammed into a stationed tractor at Ekopalle on the Kadapa-Kurnool highway around Saturday midnight.
The tractor was carrying a family of 13 members who were on their way to attend a wedding in the neighbouring village on Sunday morning. The injured were rushed to Proddatur government hospital.
The bride's family belonging to Krishnapalle in Duvvuru mandal, have started off on Saturday night to participate in the wedding to be held at Devuni Kadapa. While the bride and her parents left in a four-wheeler, the rest of the relatives decided to travel in three tractors. One of the tractors came to halt at Ekopalle as fuel got exhausted.
Even as the driver was stopped the vehicle on the road side and looking for a petrol pump, a speeding lorry rammed into the tractor killing five persons.
In the mishap, A Venkata Ramana (22), B Lakshmi Prasanna (10), tractor driver G Balaraju, died on the spot. The remaining 15 persons who were severely injured, were rushed to Proddatur government hospital where G Balakrishna (30) and A Peda Peddaiah (40) succumbed to injuries.
The condition of two others is said to be critical. The Duvvuru police led by circle inspector of police Y Venkateswarly are investigating the case and efforts are on to nab the lorry driver who is reportedly absconding.