Nine people were killed and 14 others were injured when the van in which they were travelling collided with an omni bus at Emaper near Kallakurichi on Thursday. Police sources said while the bus was coming towards Chennai from Coimbatore, the van, carrying 14 people for a contract work, was proceeding to Kangeyam from Uthiramerur, when the mishap occurred at around 0330 hrs.
Police said the van driver was driving the vehicle at a high speed and has dozed off at the wheels, resulting in the accident, in which seven people in the van and two in the bus were killed. The deceased included the drivers of both the vehicles. Police rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies to Kallakurichi Government Hospital for autopsy. The injured were admitted to a hospital.