Driver killed after two lorries collide near Jolarpet

A 23-year-old man was killed after a sand-laden lorry driven by him collided with another lorry at Kothur village near Jolarpet town in Tirupattur on Friday.

The deceased was identified as K. Ellumalai, a resident of Kothur village in Tirupattur. Initial inquiry revealed that S. Vijay, 25, a native of Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, was operating a private transport service in the area over the past few years. He was reportedly supplying illicit sand and silt to brick kilns in Tirupattur, Vellore and Krishnagiri districts.

Police said Vijay roped in two lorries to transport sand from Chittoor to brick kilns around Jolarpet and Natrampalli town in Tirupattur district. Accordingly, lorry driver Ellumalai was on his way to load illegal sand in Chittoor while another driver B. Arun, 27, was driving the truck to brick kilns in Tirupattur. Ellumalai lost control of the vehicle and hit the lorry coming in the opposite direction.

In the impact, Ellumalai was severely injured and Arun escaped unhurt. Passersby and other motorists admitted the injured driver at the Government Medical College Hospital in Krishnagiri district where doctors declared that he was brought dead.

A case has been registered by Natrampalli police. The two lorries involved in the accident have been seized. The lorry owner, Vijay, and driver Arun were arrested. A probe is under way.