KARUR: Overspeeding and rash driving claimed the lives of three engineering students and one of their teachers on Tuesday when the van they were travelling in crashed head-on with a lorry on NH 67 at Poigaipudur.
Eighteen others, who were also in the van, were grievously injured.
Sources said that over 25 students and staff were travelling in the van belonging to Chettinad College of Engineering and Technology, Puliyur. The accident happened around 8.25 am after the private college van picked up students on the Pettavaithalai-Puliyur stretch.
The van was travelling at a break-neck speed when it hit the lorry and Dheenadhayalan, the van driver, veered towards the left and swerved off the lane. The van’s windshields shattered and in the impact, the broken glass and metal hit most of the students seated in the front row. The seats too were displaced in the collision.
Three persons were killed on the spot and one died on the way to hospital.
The dead were identified as M Rifana Banu (20) of Sirugamani, Roshni Priya (18) of Musiri, S Kokila (18) of Pettavaithalai and the woman staff Pon Sangetha of Musiri, all from Tiruchy district.
Besides, 18 others, including three staff members and Dheenadhayalan, who sustained severe injuries, were admitted to various private hospitals for treatment. A lab instructor Rajakumari (27) suffered hand fracture while Vasantha Kumari (31) is undergoing maxillofacial surgery at a hospital.
Meanwhile, students resorted to a road roko in front of their college after the tragic accident. Students sought the dismissal of the driver and action against the Principal of the college.
They said they had already raised complaints against Dheenadhayalan, who was a habitual rash driver while picking up students, but the administration never listened to the complaints, they alleged.