8 killed, 14 injured in van-truck collision in Gujarat

ANAND (Gujarat): Eight persons, including three women, were killed and 14 others injured when their van collided head-on with a truck on Tarapur-Vataman Highway near here, police said on Monday.

The accident took place late last night on Tarapur- Vataman road, which falls on Baroda-Rajkot Highway. Tarapur is 37 km from here.

The driver of the pick-up van, carrying 21 labourers from Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh, tried to overtake a heavy vehicle when a truck coming from the opposite direction collided with it, police said.

"Prima facie, the negligence of driver is the cause of the mishap," Anand superintendent of police R V Asari said.

Seven persons, who were employed as labourers at a farm in Tarapur, died on-the-spot while one succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a hospital in Vadodara, police said.

The deceased have been identified as - Lalita Koli (17), Kadri Koli (35), Bhapi Koli (37), Dimalya Koli (50), Narsinh Koli (48), Chatra Koli (15) and driver Rohit Ratilal Solanki.

The identity of one of the deceased could not be ascertained.

The 14 injured, including some seriously, were being treated at a private hospital in the district while some of them were referred to a hospital in Baroda.

It is feared that the toll may rise.