Three youths were killed and two others seriously injured when a private bus collided with a car near Kecheri here on Thursday.
The deceased have been identified as Shaji alias Shajahan, 23, Riyaz, 20, and Kuttan, 22. The injured Shameem, 21, and Ezahaqu, 21, have been admitted to a private hospital in Thrissur. All of the victims belonged to Valencherry and nearby areas in Malappuram.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred around 6:15 am when the bus which was coming from Guruvayur to Thrissur collided with the car, head-on, while it was overtaking another vehicle.
All the passengers in the car were trapped inside the mangled remains of the car until the Fire and Rescue Service personnel took them out. According to the police, Kuttan was found dead on the spot, while others were rushed to hospitals in Thrissur and Kunnamkulam.
The deceased Shajahan and Riyaz, and injured Shameem and Ezahaqu were final-year degree students.
The accident led to traffic block for more than an hour on the busy Thrissur-Kozhikode route.