Three persons were killed and eight others were injured when a speeding truck collided head on with an overcrowded Tata SUV at Karepalli on the Yellendu-Khammam main road in the wee hours of Monday.
The Karepalli police identified the deceased as Ravi, aged 40 (the driver of the Tata Magic vehicle); Sheikh Gousia, aged 24; and Sheikh Ashu, 20.
The Yellendu-bound truck carrying construction material rammed into the oncoming passenger SUV.
Eight of the passengers sustained critical injuries in the accident, and were rushed to the district headquarters hospital in Khammam.
The police are still trying to track the truck and its driver, who is still at large.