Lucknow, Aug 4 (IANS): Five pilgrims headed to Allahabad were killed and seven others injured when their vehicle crashed into a truck stationed on the roadside in Jaunpur early on Saturday, police said.

The accident took place on the Rae Bareli-Jaunpur highway at around 3 a.m. when the SUV carrying the pilgrims from Kathirav village in Varanasi to Kade Manikpur in Allahabad, collided with the truck.

A police officer told IANS that prima facie the driver of the SUV appeared to have fallen asleep at the wheel leading to the accident.

The injured were rushed to the Machlishahr community health centre where five were pronounced dead on arrival.

The remaining seven were rushed to the district hospital in serious condition, who referred them to the BHU Trauma Centre where condition of four remains critical, the official added.

The deceased have been identified as Jai Prakash, 35, his wife Sarita Devi, 34, Sushil Devi, 31, Sharmila, 20, and Manoj Patel, 28. The bodies have been sent for autopsy.