ALAPPUZHA: Two were killed after a lorry rammed a pickup van when they were busy replacing a deflated tyre of the vehicle. The accident happened on the national highway at Ponnamveli in Alappuzha. The dead have been identified as van driver Biju of Chovara in Ernakulam and Vasudevan (58) of Pattanacaud.

Vasudevan reached there to help Biju in replacing the tyre. His cycle is lying near the pickup van. The accident happened Sunday morning at 6 am. Biju was proceeding to Ernakulam with his van laden with drinking water.

The van’s tyre deflated at Ponnamveli. Vasudevan came to help Biju when he was replacing the tyre of his vehicle which got deflated. The vehicle was parked on the side of the road. When they were replacing the tyre, a lorry from the opposite side rammed the vehicle. Both died on the spot itself. The police have taken the lorry driver into custody.