Five people have died following a serious road accident early this morning (21) in the Kumbukkan area of Monaragala, police said.
The collision occurred on the Kalu Bridge along the Wellawaya–Monaragala road, when a tipper truck travelling toward Wellawaya collided with a tractor travelling in the opposite direction.
According to police, 10 people were travelling on the tractor trailer at the time of the crash. Eight people sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Monaragala Hospital for treatment.
Five of the injured later succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment.
The deceased, who were reportedly residents of Dodamgaslanda, Buttala, and Horabokka, were aged 21, 26, 31, 55 and 56.
The remaining three injured persons are continuing to receive inpatient treatment at Monaragala Hospital.
Police have taken both the tipper truck driver and tractor driver into custody. The Monaragala Police are conducting further investigations into the cause of the accident.
