KOLLAM: The 40-year-old tusker Gopalakrishnan of Asramam Sree Krishnaswamy Temple here, sustained serious injuries when a sand-laden lorry knocked it down in the wee hours of Tuesday. The tusker suffered fractures on both its hind legs. Another tusker Rajasekharan of Sakthikulangara Temple, and two mahouts also sustained minor injuries in the accident. The mahouts have been admitted to a private hospital here. The accident occurred on the NH-47 near Neendakara around 5.30 a.m. Three tuskers, including Gopalakrishnan, were being taken to the Chavara Kottankulangara Temple for the Chamayavilakku festival from Thirumullavaram near here, where all the three tuskers had participated in a temple festival on Monday night. The lorry, which came in the same direction, hit the backside of the tusker, which fell into a small pit on the roadside. The lorry also hit the leg of another tusker in front of Gopalakrishnan. It also sustained injuries on the leg. The mahouts also fell along with the tusker. Veterinary doctors Arun and Thomas from the SPCA and P.K. Jacob from Daya arrived at the site and examined the elephants. Around 11 a.m., it was lifted to a lorry with the help of a crane and was brought to the Asramam Temple for further treatment. The doctors said that the condition of the tusker will be put under observation for 24 hours. Sakthikulangara police have registered a case and took the driver and the cleaner of the lorry into custody. The police also seized the lorry with Tamil Nadu registration (TN 24 V 2449). The driver told the police that the accident occurred when a vehicle came in the opposite direction failed to dim its lights. Reflectors had been installed on the tail of the tuskers.