Five dead, 17 injured in 5 road mishaps

Five persons died and 17 others were injured in five separate road accidents across the island on Saturday (3), the Police Media Unit said. The accidents occurred in the Chilaw, Suriyawewa, Pothuhera, Badulla, and Samanthurai areas. A 58-year-old push cyclist was killed by a van in Chilaw on the Chilaw – Puttalam Road. The van knocked down the cyclist and he died on admission to the Chilaw Base Hospital. The van driver was arrested. Meanwhile, a 43-year-old motorist was killed in a head on collision with a tractor at Suriyawewa on the Suriyawewa – Padangala Road. He died on the spot, the Police said. Three people, including two children aged 10 and one, died in an accident in Pothuhera when a lorry crashed into the three-wheeler they were traveling in. Three others, who were injured, are being treated at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. Two private buses collided along the Passara - Badulla road injuring 14 people, including ten women. No fatalities were reported, Police said. A 49-year-old man was killed in Walkammadu, Sammanthurai, when he lost control of his motorcycle and it veered off the road.