Karkala : The negligence drive of a tempo driver kills three persons and 18 others were seriously injured when a goods tempo overturned at Maroor near Ajekar here on Friday July 18.

The 21 labourers including a cement mixer were loaded into the tempo and it was moving towards Hebri from Karkala.

Two women labourers and a man died in the accident. The injured have been admitted to the Karkala Government Hospital.

Vijaykumar (60), Mahantesh (50), Hanumanta (45), Puttamma (21), Shobha (29), Gadiappa (45), Pakilesh (17), Veeramma, Neelamma (34), Ranganna Gowda (55), Ramanna (20), Sharanabasappa (18), Ellamma and Mahadevi injured in this accident.

Sources said, the cement mixer rolled over to one side of the tempo, while who was sitting the same side crushed under cement mixer. The speedy drive and speaking on mobile phone causes the incident.

The contractor Nagappa picked the labourers on the way to contruction site.