BIDAR, June 28 -- Five people travelling from Haveri district were killed and four others injured early Saturday after a goods truck crossed the median on a national highway in Koppal district and collided head-on with their van, police said.

The crash occurred around 1.30 am on National Highway 63 near Bhanapur in Kukanoor taluk. According to police, the victims were travelling in an Omni van from Kabbar village in Rattihalli taluk to Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt via Koppal when the truck veered across the divider into the opposite carriageway.

Koppal superintendent of police Dr. Ram L. Arasiddi said the deceased were identified as Kenchamma Balekayi, 35, Amrutha Kotyal, 25, Ramesh Ballari, 45, Chinmay, 16, and Praveen Shivaji Balekayi. ...