Thrissur (Kerala): Following the tragic midnight crash on National Highway 66 that claimed eight lives, the perilous stretch at Kaipamangalam has once again sparked intense public concern, recalling the fatal accident of renowned mimicry artist and actor Kollam Sudhi, which occurred just metres away.

It was on June 5, 2023 that the actor lost his life in a similar road tragedy. The accident took place around 4.30 am at Panambikkunnu in Kaipamangalam while Sudhi was returning to Thiruvananthapuram after a show in Vadakara. The car he was travelling in collided head-on with an oncoming pickup van. Although a severely injured Sudhi was rushed to A R Hospital in Kodungallur, his life could not be saved.

Sudhi was seated in the front passenger seat. Although both front airbags deployed during the impact, his chest slammed violently into the dashboard, fracturing almost all of his ribs.

The post-mortem report revealed that except for two, all his ribs were crushed. While he had sustained a deep laceration behind his ear, the primary cause of death was determined to be crushed rib fragments puncturing his vital internal organs.