Thick fog could have resulted in the collision of the lorries, according to the police.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A youth was charred to death after two lorries collided on Tiruvannamalai-Bengaluru Highway at Pachal village near Chengam town on Sunday.

K. Periyasamy, 32, was driving an empty lorry from Dharmapuri to Tiruvannamalai to collect a raw straw consignment. Accompanied by lorry cleaner S. Prabhakaran (18), they were traveling on a fog-shrouded stretch. Meanwhile, a concrete mixer lorry, driven by 45-year-old V. Ragu, was headed in the opposite direction towards Shoolagiri village in Krishnagiri. The thick fog severely reduced visibility, making it difficult for vehicles to navigate the route, according to police.

Periyasamy lost control of the vehicle and collided with the concrete mixer lorry. In the impact, two lorries caught fire. Periyasamy jumped off the vehicle while Prabhakran was charred to death. Ragu sustained burn injuries. The incident happened around 2.30 a.m.

Immediately, passersby and motorists alerted fire fighters and Tiruvannamalai police. After nearly an hour, firefighters managed to douse the fire. Ragu was admitted to the Government Medical College in Tiruvannamalai town. A case was registered. A probe is under way.