Fatal thrills of speed

Last week's car crash on the Colombo - Kandy road at Imbulgoda junction, where a popular film and television actress's car collided head on with a on coming passenger bus critically injuring the film actress, is an eye opener to motorists.

The injured actress was Nilmini Tennakoon who sustained grievous bodily injuries from the accident. She was rushed to the Ragama hospital and was later transferred to the Incentive Care Unit (ICU) due to the serious nature of the injuries.

The accident occurred at Balummahara on March 14 around 5.30 when she was rushing to Kurunegala from Colombo for a Television filming event. Her car was reduced to matchwood although the chauffeur miraculously escaped with minor injuries.

The Chauffeur had told police that the actress had to be at Kurunegala by 6.30. p.m. and therefore he drove the vehicle fast. The police said that Nilmini's Chauffeur was at fault for driving the vehicle at break neck speed.

Reports say that Nilmini had undergone three operations and her condition seemed to be a little better last Wednesday. Nilmini's accident was soon the talk of the town. The accident is a grim reminder of safety on our highways. How safe is it to travel by car or by van these days judging by the number of fatal accidents that occur daily on our highways.?

According to Senior Supdt. of Police, Traffic Headquarters Lucky Peiris motor accidents occur due to high speeds and reckless driving. Accidents also happen when motorists do not obey traffic rules and regulations.

The number of fatal accidents due to consumption of liquor have come down due to strict police action. But speeding and overtaking when you are supposed not to do so have resulted in a number of fatal accidents.

"Speed thrills but also kills. Negligence is also a main cause of accidents," he added. A fortnight ago a number of fatal accidents were reported from different parts of the country.

The frequency of these fatal accidents were frightful. The most serious fatal accident was reported on March 14 at Liyanegemulla, at Seeduwa when a motor car travelling at high speed from Colombo towards Negombo ran off the road and ploughed into a van parked on the opposite side of the road killing all three passengers in the vehicle.

One could imagine the speed, the vehicle was travelling at when it crossed the road. On March 14 near the Balagolla temple on Teldeniya Kandy road, two persons on a motor cycle were killed when it collided with a tractor transporting sand. The two victims were identified as employees of a factory at Pallekelle.

Last week another fatal accident was reported from the Mathugama area when an ambulance travelling at high speed went off the road and crashed on to a tree before falling in to a water hole.

A pregnant woman inside the ambulance died due to asphyxia while her mother and her mother-in-law travelling in the ambulance were rescued by neighbours who rushed to the spot. The incident occurred while the pregnant woman expecting her first child was being taken to the Nagoda hospital in the ambulance.

On March 16 five persons travelling in a three wheeler were injured when their vehicle collided with a bus on the Eeeriyagama-Peradeniya road. The injured were rushed to the Peradeniya hospital from where they were transferred to the Kandy hospital.

The condition of the three wheeler driver was serious when admitted to the Peradeniya hospital. The five persons from the Gannoruwa area were returning after attending a funeral according to hospital sources. On March 16 a Kataragama bound bus with passengers from Colombo crashed onto a lorry parked close to the People's Bank injuring six passengers in the bus.

Of the six passengers two are said to be in a serious condition. The incident happened around 2.15 a.m., police said.

Meanwhile five persons travelling in a tractor were injured when their vehicle fell into a deep precipice at Ella-Wellawaya road last week. The injured persons were admitted to the Badulla and Wellawaya hospitals. "The tractor had broken into pieces" the police said.

[email protected]