Teenage girl among four killed in Akurana crash; driver arrested

A 16-year-old girl was among four people killed when a bulk cement carrier overturned after colliding with several vehicles at Kurugoda Junction in Akurana on 19 October, police said.

Six others injured in the accident are receiving treatment at Kandy and Akurana hospitals.

Police said the vehicle, carrying cement powder from Alawatugoda towards Kandy along the Kandy–Matale A9 road, crashed into vehicles travelling ahead after its driver lost control near the seventh milepost.

The victims have been identified as two men aged 38 and 51 from Alawatugoda and Akurana, and a 16-year-old girl and a 28-year-old woman from Matale and Akurana.

Their bodies have been handed over to relatives following post-mortem examinations at Kandy Hospital.

The driver, a 46-year-old resident of Galgamuwa, has been arrested and is due to be produced before the Kandy Magistrate’s Court on 20 October.

Alawatugoda Police are conducting further investigations.

The driver has told investigators that the vehicle’s brakes failed. Police are awaiting technical reports to establish the cause of the accident.

Following the crash, police said the introduction of regulations requiring more frequent vehicle fitness inspections was being expedited.

Under the proposed system, inspections would be required every three months or after 5,000 kilometres of travel.

Police stressed that drivers must ensure that brakes, indicator lights and other safety equipment are functioning properly before taking vehicles onto the road.

An earlier announcement by Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake specified that the inspection requirement would apply to passenger transport vehicles, including buses and school and staff transport. Vehicles used solely for private travel would be exempt.