7 killed in truck, jeep collision near Deodar

PALANPUR: Seven persons, including two women and two children were killed, while nine others were injured in a collision between a jeep and a truck near Sanadar Patiya, located 3km away from Deodar in Banaskantha district, on Thursday.
Police said the victims were returning in the jeep to Khimana village after making purchases at Deodar, a taluka headquarters.Eyewitnesses said the impact of collision was such that the jeep was thrown into the air and fell down about 10-feet off the road.
Sources said all the seven victims died on the spot. They have been identified as Velaji Thakor (30), who was driving the jeep, Sattuben Chaudhary (42), Jassiben Chaudhary (23), Himanshu Chaudhary (3), Neski (3), Ramji Katariya (70) and Prahaladbhai Bajaniya (20). They were residents of villages adjoining Khimana.
Sub-inspector T R Gadhvi said the injured were taken to Dharpur Medical College in Patan. Police have booked the truck driver for rash and negligent driving. He fled from the spot after the accident. The cops have impounded the vehicle.
Meanwhile, a pal of gloom descended in Deodar and adjoining villages after residents received the bodies of accident victims.