Madikeri: An Ex-Serviceman and his three-year-old daughter were killed when a Bolero SUV and a Maruti Omni van collided head-on on Madikeri-Kushalnagar Highway near Aanekadu in Kodagu yesterday.

The deceased have been identified as Rajesh Devaiah (38), an Ex-Serviceman and his daughter Nancy Bollamma (3), residents of Basavanahalli village in Kushalnagar taluk.

Rajesh, who had gone to Madikeri to attend the naming ceremony of the daughter of his wife Smitha’s sister, was returning to Basavanahalli with his daughter Nancy in his Maruti Omni van.

When they were proceeding on Madikeri-Kushalnagar Highway near Aanekadu, a Bolero vehicle, carrying estate workers from Chanakal Kaval in Periyapatna taluk towards Boiekeri, collided head-on with the van, killing Rajesh on the spot and seriously injuring Nancy. Nancy breathed her last while being shifted to Madikeri District Hospital. Bolero driver Arun, estate workers Jayalakshmi and Neelamma, who have sustained severe injuries, have been admitted to Kushalnagar Community Health Centre.

Due to the impact of the collision, the Maruti Omni van has been completely mangled. Kushalnagar Police, who have registered a case, are investigating.