Seven die as driver rams car into tree

At least seven persons, including four women and two children, were killed and six others were severely injured when a passenger car, they were travelling in, rammed into a tree near Tagadi village in the district on Friday, police said.

The accident took place on Friday morning when 13 people were travelling in a car to Amreli town and it dashed into a tree on Dhandhuka-Barvala Highway in Tagadi village, killing seven persons on the spot, including the driver, sub-inspector at Dhandhuka police station, R B Karmatia said.

As per primary investigations, driver of the car, Devang Patel (23) lost control of the car as he dozed off for a moment and rammed the vehicle into a tree in full force, he said. All the car occupants were relatives and lived in Isanpur and Bapunagar areas in Ahmedabad.

"There were at least 13 persons, including the driver. They were going to Amreli to attend a marriage function. When they reached near Tagadi village, Devang lost control as he fell asleep. Soon after getting the alert, we rushed to the spot and admitted six others to nearby hospital," he added.

The deceased were identified as Devang Patel (driver), Devila Patel (48), Sharda Patel (62), Nandi Vadgama (18), Rina Patel (36), her son Jaynik Patel (5) and Feny Patel (7). A complaint of rash driving has been registered against the deceased driver and further probe is on, the officer said.