Tiruppur: Initial reports pointed out to tyre burst and the container lorry losing control and hitting a luxury bus at Avinashi in Tamil Nadu on Thursday early morning. But it was found later from a thorough examination that the accident was not due to tyre blowout but the driver dozing off behind the wheels.

The lorry which was taking the right side of the 6-lane road on the Coimbatore-Salem highway, crashed against the divider and crossed the other side, lost a tyre after running for over 100 metres and crashed against the oncoming bus.  After the driver of the lorry Hemaraj was nabbed by the police on Thursday afternoon, it was confirmed that he had slept off during the course of the journey. The driver told police that the vehicle lost control while he dozed off and that was the reason for the mishap. The blood test results is yet to be obtained.

The police team reached the spot 5 minutes from the time of the mishap and the patrol police reached first. The rescue efforts began quickly along with local people and the fire force was informed by 3.30 am.  The rescue team reached the spot within 5 minutes covering a distance of 2 kms. Coming to know about the casualties, more fire force personnel from Coimbatore and Tiruppur reached the spot.

More than 20 people who sustained minor injuries were discharged by evening. The identities of all the deceased were confirmed by 2.15 pm. Autopsy was conducted at the Tiruppur Govt Hospital. The damaged bus with number KL 15 A 282 was lifted by a crane and removed from the spot by 9.30 pm. By 11 pm, the lorry too was removed.