Six die, 50 injured in bus accident

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

A passenger bus driven at an excessive speed ploughed into a parked Tipper lorry killing six passengers and seriously injuring more than 50 passengers on Friday night, police told the `Sunday Observer'.

Tangalle police said five passengers who sustained critical injuries were admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching hospital and the Matara hospital.

The accident occurred around 9.10 pm. at Marakoliya in the Tangalle area. The passenger bus had left the Pettah bus stand around 3.30 p.m. and arrived at Marakoliya when the accident occurred.

"The bus was packed to capacity with passengers and the driver was unable to control the bus," police said. The six dead passengers have been identified as males. One dead passenger was identified as the brother of the owner of the bus who stood near the entrance, police said.

Police said they arrested the bus driver who was produced before a doctor. However the driver was found not to be under the influence of liquor. The accident was due to exhaustion and recklessness on the part of the driver," Police said.

The driver of the Tipper lorry and its cleaner had stopped near a tea kiosk for refreshments when the accident occurred.

The lorry was bound for Tissamaharama with industrial chemicals. Fortunately it had not exploded after the bus rammed into it which would have been a catastrophe, police said. Further investigations were being conducted by HQI Tangalle, Chief Inspector Kalinga Silva.