In a tragic road accident in Chitradurga district of Karnataka, 12 people were killed when a truck carrying iron rods toppled over a goods carrier in the wee hours of Friday.

The accident, which occurred on the Sholapur-Mangaluru national highway, claimed the lives of two children and a 60-year-old woman, among others. Among the children, one was 17 and another was 10.

M.N. Anucheth, Chitradurga police commissioner told The News Minute that the accident occurred around 2 AM in the morning on NH13 near Chikkagondanahalli, in Chitradurga district.

The truck dragged the Tata Ace vehicle about 50 meters before it hit an electric pole and fell on the vehicle eventually crushing the people to death,  police said.

All the 12 casualties were residents of nearby Kodagavalli of Bharamasagara hobli and were returning from a religious function in nearby Chikkagondanahalli village.

"The truck driver identified as Rahul is undergoing treatment at the district hospital. A case has been registered against the driver for rash driving and causing death by negligence at Thuruvannur police station," he said.

"Though there were no eyewitnesses, what we gathered while inspection is that the driver of the truck, carrying 50 tonnes of steel rods, was riding on the right hand side and rammed on to the Tata Ace that was coming from the opposite direction," he added.