Triple Bus Crash: Police Point to Reckless Driving

COLOMBO (News 1st); A devastating road accident that claimed four lives and left 76 others injured in Rambewa, Anuradhapura, was the result of dangerous and negligent driving by one of the bus drivers involved, according to preliminary police investigations.

The crash, which involved two Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses and a private bus, unfolded yesterday (10) and has now become one of the most serious road accidents reported in recent months.

The four victims who lost their lives in the collision included two women and two men, while dozens of injured passengers were rushed to hospital following the impact.

Anuradhapura Additional Magistrate D.L. Samarasinghe visited the scene yesterday afternoon to inspect the location where the accident occurred.

Following the inspection, the Additional Magistrate instructed the Mihintale Police to obtain separate examinations of all three buses from the Government Motor Vehicle Examiner and submit the relevant reports to court.

The accident occurred at around 9.30 a.m. yesterday near the Weli Oya junction in Rambewa.

The violent collision caused extensive damage to both SLTB buses and left 76 passengers injured.

CCTV footage capturing the incident has also come under scrutiny as investigators piece together the circumstances leading to the crash.

Among those killed was the driver of the SLTB bus attached to the Kebithigollewa Depot. The 47-year-old was a resident of Atawiragollewa, Hiralugama in Medawachchiya.

Another victim was a 56-year-old resident of Ridigama.

The two female victims were identified as a 32-year-old woman from Padaviya and a 70-year-old woman from Veyangoda.

Police investigations into the fatal collision are continuing, while authorities await technical reports that are expected to shed further light on the chain of events that led to the tragedy.