15 injured after van crashes while avoiding wild boar in Kerala’s Wadakkanchery

Thrissur: Fifteen passengers were injured after a van lost control and crashed into a tree in Wadakkanchery, Kerala, while the driver attempted to avoid a wild boar that suddenly ran across the road, police said.

The incident took place around 1.30 am on Sunday along the Wadakkanchery–Kunnamkulam stretch of the state highway. The vehicle was travelling from Palakkad to Guruvayur and was carrying 15 people at the time.

According to police, the driver swerved sharply to avoid hitting the animal. The manoeuvre caused the van to first collide with a roadside lottery shop before it veered further ahead and struck a tree, coming to a halt.

Residents in the area, alerted by the sound of the crash, rushed to the scene and helped rescue the passengers from the damaged vehicle. All those on board sustained minor injuries and were taken to a hospital in Thrissur for treatment.

The front section of the van was extensively damaged in the collision.

Officials noted that similar accidents have occurred on the same stretch in the past and have advised motorists to drive with greater caution, particularly during night-time travel.

PTI