A tragic head-on collision between a private bus and a three-wheeler in the Katukurunda area of Payagala, along the Galle-Colombo main road, has claimed the lives of a woman and a young boy.
According to the Payagala Police, the accident occurred at around 12:00 midnight yesterday (July 1). Two other individuals who were traveling in the three-wheeler sustained injuries, with one reported to be in critical condition.
Dashcam footage from the front of the private bus captured the exact moment of the crash. The bus, which was traveling from Colombo to Matara, had temporarily stopped at the Kalutara Katukurunda main bus station. As the bus resumed its journey and pulled forward, the oncoming three-wheeler suddenly lost control, overturned, and crashed directly into the front of the bus. Law enforcement officials suspect that the driver of the three-wheeler may have fallen asleep at the wheel, leading to the fatal impact.
The victims were all members of the same family residing on Duwe Temple Road in Kalutara. They were returning home after a night out viewing the Poson Poya festival celebrations in Beruwala. Following the collision, the 62-year-old grandmother and her 12-year-old grandson were rushed to the Kalutara Teaching Hospital with severe injuries, where they unfortunately succumbed to their wounds.
The three-wheeler was driven by the deceased child’s grandfather, who also sustained critical injuries and remains hospitalized at the Kalutara Hospital. Another female passenger in the vehicle escaped with minor injuries.
In a bizarre turn of events, a passenger inside the bus took advantage of the chaotic aftermath of the crash to steal a bag belonging to the bus driver. The stolen bag contained the driver's license and official vehicle registration documents. This theft was also captured clearly on the bus's internal CCTV camera system. The Payagala Police are currently conducting further investigations into both the fatal road accident and the theft.
