Palakkad: Police have slapped culpable homicide charges against a truck driver over the accident that claimed the lives of four school girls at Panayambadam in Karimba here. The accused is Kannur Vazhikkadavu native Prajeesh John who was behind the wheels of the truck that collided with another truck that lost control and fell on the schoolchildren. Prajeesh has confessed that his mistake ended up in the accident, said police. He is also facing charges of overspeeding and reckless driving.

In his statement to the police, Prajeesh said that he lost control of the vehicle and collided with the truck carrying cement to Kozhikode when a bike came from the wrong side. However, police suspect that Prajeesh was using mobile phone during the time of the accident.

On Thursday, RTO also confirmed that the cement-laden truck fell on the students after colliding with another truck. Police took the driver Mahendra Prasad and cleaner Varghese of the truck involved in the accident into custody hours after the accident. The duo who sustained injuries in the accident are currently undergoing treatment at Mother Care Hospital in Mannarkkadu.

The four Class 8 students from Karimba Government Higher Secondary School met with the accident while returning home after an exam on Thursday evening. Though they were rushed to the nearby hospital, they succumbed to their injuries. The deceased are Irfana Sherin, daughter of Abdul Salam from Cherulli; Ridha Fathima, daughter of Abdul Rafeeq; Nidha Fathima, daughter of Salam; and AS Ayisha, daughter of Sharafudheen. The mortal remains of the four were laid to rest on Friday morning after a public homage at Karimba auditorium.