Three farm hands, including two women, were killed when a cargo vehicle in which they were travelling, was hit from behind by a speeding car at Aruppukottai on the Thoothukudi-Madurai highway on Saturday morning.
The deceased were identified as S. Palaniammal, 28, M. Vijayalakshmi, 22, and Mari, 55.
Seventeen persons injured in the accident have been admitted to the Aruppukottai Government Hospital and Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.
The police said the farm hands from Kandiamendal were going to Pandalgudi when the accident occurred.
In the impact of the accident, the cargo vehicle toppled and the passengers fell down.
The car that was coming from Chennai was abandoned and the passengers escaped from the scene, the police said.
The Aruppukottai Town Police are investigating.
