Six people, including 5 of a family, were killed after a car collided head-on with a KSRTC bus on MC road, Kambakod in Kerala’s Kollam district, on Saturday. The deceased included 3 women and a child.

Those who died were identified as Arun (21), who drove the car, Mini (45), Mini’s daughter Anjana (22), Mini’s sister-in-law Smitha (27) and Smitha’s children Abhinaj (8) and Harsha (3). One of the children - Abhinaj - who was sitting in the car, was rushed to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital after sustaining grievous injuries from the crash. It was later reported that he too succumbed to the injuries. Arun, the driver from Ala in Chengannur in Alappuzha district also died on the spot.

The car was reportedly heading towards the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram from Kottarakara, which is a 90-minute drive from the city. The deceased family hailed from Thalachira in the Vadasserikara area of Ranni, Pathanamthitta. The accident occurred at Vadasserikara with a KSRTC bus that was going to Kottarakara. According to eyewitnesses,  the car was trying to overtake a moving truck at a curve, resulting in the collision with the KSRTC bus.

According to The Hindu, police officers from the Chadayamangalam station stated that the cause of the accident was most likely overspeeding, as reported by most eye-witnesses. However, a proper conclusion to the incident will only be reached once the investigations have been completed.

The car was reportedly completely damaged due to the impact.

Following the crash, the bodies were trapped inside the car and Fire and Rescue services, who were called, reportedly had to break into the vehicle to retrieve the bodies. The bodies were then shifted to Kadakal Taluk Hospital for a post mortem, following which they will be handed over to the family of the deceased.