Thrissur (Kerala) |Fifteen people were injured after a van lost control and crashed into a tree while trying to avoid a wild boar that suddenly crossed the road at Wadakkanchery here on Sunday, police said.

According to police, the incident occurred on the Wadakkanchery-Kunnamkulam stretch of the state highway at around 1.30 am.

The van, carrying 15 passengers, was travelling from Palakkad to Guruvayur.

Police said the wild boar suddenly crossed the road and, in an attempt to avoid hitting the animal, the driver swerved the vehicle, which first crashed into a lottery shop.

The vehicle then moved ahead and hit a tree before coming to a halt, police said.

Locals, alerted by the noise, rushed to the spot and rescued the passengers.

Police said all the passengers suffered minor injuries and were admitted to a hospital in Thrissur.

The front portion of the vehicle was completely damaged in the accident, police said.

Officials said similar accidents had been reported in the area earlier and urged motorists to exercise caution while driving along the stretch.