Cop killed by speeding truck

A car crash site on a busy state highway in south Kerala saw another accident within a few hours, killing a civil police officer involved in rescue operations, early on Sunday.

The incident happened on the Main Central Road, near Kottarakkara in Kollam district.

The deceased, identified as Vipin (35), a driver at a local police control unit, was run over by a speeding truck at the accident site.

Two of his colleagues from the control unit  -  Sub Inspector  (SI) Venugopal and Assistant SI Asokan  - sustained injuries and have been hospitalised.

The policemen were at Kulakkada near Kottarakkara after being informed of an accident involving a car, early on Sunday.

Reports said police personnel had already shifted the injured to a hospital and were preparing the report on the accident when a speeding truck rammed their parked vehicle, knocking down three officers.

The injured policemen were shifted to a local hospital where Vipin was declared dead. The driver of the truck has been arrested and the vehicle, registered in Palakkad, seized.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state government would provide all assistance to the family of the deceased officer and ensure the required medical treatment for the injured personnel.