The mishap took place in the wee hours this morning when the driver of the SUV in which the victims were proceeding to participate in a religious event in Nellore, lost control and hit the truck head-on, K Bala Venkateswara Rao, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nellore, said.
Six persons died on the spot and two others succumbed in the hospital. All the injured were admitted to a hospital, he said.
The victims hail from neighbouring Kadapa district, police added.