Fatal road accidents

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Several road accidents were reported during the past few days where five persons died and several injured as a result of being knocked down by vehicles driven by reckless motorists, according to the Police Media Unit.

Due to a head-on collision with an SLTB bus, a motor-cyclist who was admitted to the Avissawella hospital with critical injuries on December 25 later succumbed to his injuries. The woman pillion rider who sustained serious injuries was also admitted to the Avissawella hospital. The accident occurred at the 75th mile post at Thalapitiya on the Colombo- Avissawella Road. The deceased has been identified as Lokuwithanage Sirisena (32), a resident of Udawalawe. The Eheliyagoda Police have taken the driver of the SLTB bus into custody.

Meanwhile, another motor-cyclist succumbed to his injuries at the Wathupitiwela Hospital on December 25 when his motor-cycle collided with a van travelling on the opposite direction at the 34th mile post at Kalagedihena on the Colombo-Kandy Road. The deceased has been identified as Suriya Arachchige (49) of Bogamuwa Kalagedihena. The Nittambuwa police have taken the driver of the van into custody.Another fatal motor accident was reported from the Dangolla police area on the same day when a motorist, while attempting to drive his vehicle towards a house, ran over a woman inside the compound.

The deceased person was identified as Indrani Jayaram (64). The driver has been taken into custody by the police. Meanwhile, a woman was killed when a van with six passengers ran over a precipice at the 98th culvert at Nanu-Oya Nuwara-Eliya Road. The deceased person was identified as Chelvanayagam Agilawathie (22).