A woman has died and six others have been injured in an accident on the Southern Expressway, between the Galanigama and Kahatuduwa interchanges.
Police stated that the accident occurred early this morning (16), when a van carrying eight family members collided with the rear of a delivery lorry transporting goods to supermarkets and returning to Colombo.
The van was driven by the fiancé of the deceased woman, with whom she was scheduled to marry this December. Reports indicate they were on their way to Katunayake Airport to pick up the woman’s brother, who was arriving from Israel.
By the time the Special Task Force fire and rescue unit and traffic police arrived, motorists passing by had already pulled the victims out of the van, and the three children were rushed to hospital.
The injured were admitted to Kahatuduwa Weathara Hospital and Homagama Base Hospital, while the three children were later transferred to Kalubowila Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
Currently, two men and one woman are receiving treatment at Homagama Base Hospital, with the woman reported to be in critical condition and under intensive care.
It has also been revealed that the woman’s fiancé, who was arriving from Israel, is the same person she was set to marry.
The three injured children are the couple’s own children.
Police suspect that excessive speed and driver fatigue may have caused the accident.
