One dead, 10 injured as bus overturns in Pitipana

A bus returning from a wedding ceremony overturned in Homagama Pitipana Suvapubudugama area and ten people including a father, mother and a daughter of the same family were admitted to the Homagama base hospital and the father died after admitting to the hospital, Homagama police headquarters said.

Police say that the deceased is a 52 year old named Menaka Pushpakumara, a resident of Suvapubudugama, Pitipana South, Homagama, who was an employee of Maharagama Apeksha Hospital.

Twelve people, including this person, participated in a wedding ceremony yesterday (22) afternoon which was held in Talagala, Kirivattuduwa. And at the end of the ceremony, they were returning home by the bus they were travelling in.

The accident took place when the driver unable to control the speed at the Talagala bakery shop junction, and ran off the road, hit a tree and overturned. It was later revealed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time, and he has now fled the area. Investigations are underway to find the driver. According to hospital sources, the condition of the three daughters aged 12, 14 and 22 who were injured in the accident is normal.

The autopsy is to be conducted by Homagama Coroner Justice of the Peace Chinthaka Udaya Kumara.