Child dies in double motorcycle crash; alleged drunk rider gets bail

A three-year-old child was killed in a collision involving two motorcycles, one of which was being ridden allegedly by a drunken man, who was released on bail after being produced in court.

The incident took place on Tambiligasmulla Road junction in Kiribathgoda on January 24 when Susantha Jayawickerema, together with his wife and the child, was returning from the Kiribathgoda Government Hospital. They had gone there to show a child to a doctor as she was not well.

During the inquest, Mr. Jayawickrema told the coroner that the other motorcyclist came along the Tambiligasmulla road and the collision happened when they were close to the Cleon Hotel on the main road.

He said his wife was carrying the child in her arms and all three fell off the bike. The little girl suffered head injuries while his wife's teeth were broken.

"My wife and I were admitted to the National Hospital, while my daughter Sasheli was rushed to the Incentive care unit at the hospital. Two days later, I learned that she died while undergoing treatment at the hospital," he told the coroner this week.

Kiribathgoda Police sergeant K.S Manjula said the other motorbike rider was drunk.

Dr. K.K. Jusari, who conducted the post-mortem examination said the death was due to severe head injuries suffered as a result of the accident. He said that extensive bleeding due to the child’s head hitting a hard surface was also a reason for the death.

Coroner Irisha Deshani Samaraweera ordered the Police to produce the suspect on February 6.

The suspect was identified as 29-year old Patabandige Ruwan Roshantha, a resident of Kuppiyawatte in Kadawatha.

He was produced before Mahara Chief Magistrate Heshan de Mel on January 28. He told the judge he would pay Rs 100,000 as compensation to the family. Granting bail to the suspect, the Chief Magistrate fixed the next hearing on July 9.