Wild Boar Triggers Kerala Highway Crash, 15 Hurt as Van Hits Tree

Fifteen passengers were injured after a van carrying commuters lost control and crashed into a tree while trying to avoid a wild boar that suddenly crossed the road in Kerala’s Wadakkanchery, police said on Sunday.

The accident occurred around 1.30 am on the Wadakkanchery–Kunnamkulam stretch of the state highway , when the vehicle was travelling from Palakkad to Guruvayur.

According to police, the driver swerved sharply to avoid hitting the animal, but the manoeuvre caused the van to first ram into a lottery shop located along the roadside. The vehicle then moved forward and hit a tree before coming to a halt with severe front-end damage.

Locals, alerted by the loud impact, rushed to the scene and carried out a rescue operation , helping all 15 passengers exit the wrecked vehicle before emergency services arrived.

Officials confirmed that all occupants sustained minor injuries and were shifted to a hospital in Thrissur for treatment and observation. No critical injuries or fatalities have been reported.

The van’s front portion was completely damaged , while the roadside shop also suffered impact damage due to the collision.

Police and local authorities noted that the stretch has witnessed repeated wildlife crossings , particularly involving wild boars, and similar accidents have been reported earlier in the region.

Authorities have urged motorists to maintain extreme caution during night travel , especially on forest-adjacent routes where sudden animal crossings remain a persistent risk.