Seven killed in five motorcycle accidents

Seven people including a young couple were killed in five separate motorcycle accidents at Tangalle, Gokarella, Panadura, Gampaha and Puthukudiruppu on Sunday.

Police said the 26-year-old couple were killed in a head-on collision between the motorcycle they were riding on and a bus at Weliara on the TangalleTissamaharama road.

They said the couple were residents of Vitharandeniya and had reportedly died on admission to the Tangalle hospital. The bus driver was arrested.

Meanwhile, a 21-year-old youth residing at Alubomulla is reported to have been killed when his motorcycle skidded off the road and crashed into a wall at Mahabellana in Panadura South early yesterday morning.

A 23-year-old youth was killed when his motorcycle collided with a van at Ehalagahahena in Gampaha. Police said the victim was a resident of Udugampola. The driver of the van has been arrested.

A 53-year-old man, a pillion rider was killed when the motorcycle he was riding on crashed into a herd of cattle at the 35 km post in Puthukudiiruppu on the MulaitivuParanthan road. The victim was a resident of Mannar. The motocyclist was arrested.

In Dambulla, two youths riding a motorcycle along the Dambulla – Kurunegala main road was unable to control its speed, and the motorcycle had veered off into the road at Gokarella Daramitipola and fallen into a ditch, killing both of them.

The two youths were returning after visiting a funeral house in Gokarella last Sunday night when this accident took place.

The injured had been rushed to the Gokarella district hospital by the residents but they were found dead on admission.

The deceased had been identified as Chathura Sampath Bannaka (26) an Army Lance Corporal residing in Gokarella Karawwewa and M. Chanaka Madushanka (23).