Hassan: A probationary Excise Inspector and three software engineers were killed on the spot, when the car in which they were travelling rammed into a container vehicle that was stationed at D. Chikkagondanahalli, near Channarayapatna on Bengaluru-Mangaluru National Highway, in the wee hours of yesterday.

The deceased are probationary Excise Inspector Chethan (28) and Bengaluru-based software engineers Manjunath (29), Vikram (29) and Abhishek (29). 

All the four were friends and were travelling in the same car towards Chikkamagaluru from Bengaluru. Chethan had completed his training and was supposed to report for duty on Monday. According to Police, a total of eight friends were travelling to Chikkamagalur in two cars.