Three young men lost their lives after the car they were travelling in veered out of control, struck a tree, and flipped over into a paddy field in the district, police have confirmed. The devastating incident took place late on Saturday night on the Palakkad-Chittoor road.
While three of the vehicle's occupants died instantly, the remaining three passengers were rushed to nearby hospitals with injuries, police reported on Sunday.
The deceased have been identified as Sanoosh (19), Rohan Ranjith (24), and Rohan Santhosh (22), all from the Palakkad area. The injured are Rishi (24), Jithin (21), and Adithyan (23).
The fatal crash occurred around 10:30 PM as the six friends were driving from Chittoor towards Palakkad. Early suspicions suggest the driver swerved sharply to avoid hitting a wild boar that unexpectedly ran across the road.
A police official said that one of the survivors was admitted to a hospital in Thrissur, while the other two were taken to a facility in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
"They only sustained minor injuries," the officer said. "According to their statements, the car was travelling at high speed, and the driver suddenly applied the brakes after seeing a shadow-like object, suspected to be a wild animal, on the road, which led to the crash."
Sources indicated that all the deceased were close friends who regularly travelled together. Local residents, police, and fire service personnel worked together to pull the deceased and injured from the wreckage.
"Straying wild boars are a major concern here. The injured confirmed that a wild animal, like a boar, collided with the car," a local resident told reporters. The police added that the vehicle was severely mangled in the accident.
Meanwhile, state ministers AK Saseendran and K Krishnankutty offered their condolences on the deaths, calling the incident "unfortunate." They noted that there are conflicting accounts regarding the cause of the tragedy.
"Some say it was due to a wild boar attack, while others suggest the crash happened because the car hit the tree. Henceforth, the precise cause can only be determined following a full investigation and thorough scrutiny," said Forest Minister AK Saseendran.
He assured that all necessary assistance and benefits would be provided to the families of the young men if the accident is linked to a wildlife encounter.
Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty also commented that only a detailed inquiry would clarify the cause.
"The bend in the road and the impact of the wild boar... both are being cited as potential causes of the accident. We still do not know the exact reason. Proper action will be taken after a comprehensive examination," he added.
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