Three women were killed and 18 injured when a lorry hit a mini-van in which they were travelling on National Highway 46 near Natrampalli on Friday night.
The deceased were identified as Senthamarai (40), Anjalai (40) and Krishnaveni (35) of Kondalavadi in Villupuram district. They, along with 24 others, were going to Patchur near Natrampalli to attend a funeral.
The van driver, while trying to make a U-turn near a petrol bunk slowed down the vehicle, and applied brakes on noticing a vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Meanwhile, a lorry headed towards Vellore from Krishnagiri rammed the rear of the van. Three women were thrown out of van, police said.
The trio was run over by the lorry. While Senthamarai died on the spot, the other two died on the way to the GH.
Police said that four persons were referred to the Vellore Medical College Hospital at Adukkamparai and the remaining 14 were undergoing treatment at the GH at Vaniyambadi. The police arrested the lorry driver.