A religious preacher lost his life in a tragic accident in Vilathikulam after a private bus collided with a moped.

The victim, Arulnesan, 60, son of Swaminathan and a resident of Panaiyadipatti in Tuticorin district, was traveling from Vilathikulam bus stand to Chidambaram town on his moped yesterday evening. While riding along Ettayapuram Road, a private bus heading from Vilathikulam to Tuticorin struck his vehicle.

The impact threw him from the moped, and the bus’s wheel reportedly ran over his head and hand, killing him instantly. Police from the Vilathikulam station arrived at the scene, recovered the body, and sent it to the government hospital for post-mortem examination.

A case has been registered against the bus driver, identified as Perumalsamy, 44, son of Sokkalingam from Vallinayakapuram village. The investigation is ongoing.