The accident occurred late last midnight when the van, on its way from Ernakulam to Edappal, rammed into a road side tree and fell into the ditch at Biyyam bridge as the driver lost control of the vehicle, Ponnani police said.
The deceased have been identified as Amal Krishna (15), Sudheesh (16), Atul (15), members of Ernakulam district handball team and Xavior who is a lower division clerk of Edappal panchayat.
Three persons, who sustained serious injuried have been admitted to Thrissur Medical College Hospital while the others have been admitted in a private hospital, they said.