3 killed as car hits cylinder-laden lorry

Three persons were killed when a car collided head on with a lorry laden with refilled LPG cylinders near Tindivanam in the wee hours of Thursday.  Quick action by police and passers by prevented a major disaster as, after the collision, fuel tank of the car began leaking posing the threat of a fire breakout. 

Police identified the deceased as M Syed Zafar (48), who was the Head of the Management Wing of Annamalai University, his wife Zakira Banu (40) and two children, Syed Ashik (14) and Syed Afzal (10).

The family was travelling to Chennai from Chidambaram in Zakira’s father’s car for an emergency medical consultation at a private hospital for a family member. Faizal, a resident of Kattankulathur near Kancheep uram, who was at the wheel, lost control of the vehicle and it crashed into the centre median on GST Road near Salavadi, around 5 am.  The momentum of the car carried it to the opposite lane even after the crash and it collided head on with the LPG-laden lorry coming from the opposite direction. It was going to Thirukovilur from the Padalam Filling Station.