Army Major and soldier arrested over fatal accident

An Army Major and a soldier have been taken into police custody in connection with an accident at Opanayake last afternoon that left a 5-year-old child dead.

Police said the accident had occurred at around 2pm yesterday along the Badulla-Colombo main road when an army jeep traveling towards Colombo collided head-on with a three-wheeler. Five persons, including the drivers of the jeep and the three-wheeler, along with three others suffered injuries in the incident and were admitted to the Balangoda hospital. However, a 5-year-old girl who was among the injured died later.

Police Media Unit said an Army Major of the 6th Gajaba Regiment serving at the Namaladi army camp, and who is presently receiving treatment at the Balangoda hospital for injuries sustained in the accident, was arrested for aiding and abetting the causing of a fatal accident. The soldier, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident, has been arrested on the charge of causing a fatal accident.

Both suspects are due to be produced before the Balangoda Magistrate today.

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