Thrissur: Eight people were killed after a car crashed into the rear of a parked goods lorry on National Highway 66 at Panambikkunnu in Kaipamangalam, Thrissur.

The deceased have been identified as Vishwa (20), a native of Salem; Surya (20), Joshua (20) and Yuvasanjith (20), natives of Dindigul; Santhosh (20) and Prasanna, natives of Madurai; and Jeeva and Murali Krishna. All of them are students of PSNA College of Engineering and Technology in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

The accident occurred around midnight at Panambikkunnu Centre, where the lorry was parked at a diversion on the under-construction stretch of the highway. A Tamil Nadu-registered car (TN 59 DW 8299) rammed into the rear of the lorry.

The impact completely mangled the car, trapping the occupants inside. Rescue personnel had to cut open the vehicle to extricate them. According to preliminary information, all eight occupants died at the spot. Their bodies have been taken to Thrissur Medical College Hospital for postmortem examination, after which they will be handed over to their relatives. District Collector Shika Surendran is at the hospital monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, Kaipamangalam police and District Police Chief (Rural) Mohammed Nadeemudheen reached the spot and began an investigation. MLA K K Valsaraj visited the site as well.