The mangled remains of the SUV that collided with a TNSTC bus at So Kattukulam village in Tiruvannamalai district on April 13, 2025
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Four persons including secretary of Puducherry Lorry Owners Association were killed after the SUV they were traveling collided with Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus at So Kattukulam village, around 10 kms from Tiruvannamalai town, on Mumbai – Kanyakumari Highway (NH 66) on Sunday (April 13, 2025).
The deceased were identified as D. Sathish Kumar (52), R. Sailesh Kumar (38), S. Stalin (44) and S. Saroosh (47). All of them belong to Puducherry. They are lorry owners and run a commercial transport business in Puducherry.
Initial inquiry revealed that along with three of his friends and business colleagues, Satish Kumar was returning from Bengaluru to Puducherry after a business trip when he suddenly noticed the government bus which was heading towards Tiruvannamalai town on the stretch. He lost control of the vehicle and collided with the bus, which was coming in the opposite direction.
In the impact, all four in the SUV were crushed inside the vehicle. The government bus had around 30 commuters and bus crew at the time of the accident, which happened around 3.50 a.m. Bus crew and commuters escaped unhurt in the incident.
Immediately, other motorists and passerby rushed to the spot and also alerted Kilpennathur police, who came to the spot along with an ambulance. The mangled vehicles including the government bus were removed from the spot. Traffic was affected on the route for more than an hour due to weekend holidays and Pournami festival celebrated in Arunachaleswara temple in Tiruvannamalai town.
Meanwhile, police shifted bodies to Government Medical College Hospital in Tiruvannamalai for post-mortem. A case was registered. Bus driver S. Palanivel (43) was arrested for the accident. Police said drowsiness of the SUV driver might be the reason for the accident. A probe is underway.
Published – April 13, 2025 03:13 pm IST
