Ten including three children killed in head-on collision

Ten persons have been killed in a motor vehicle accident involving a bus and a van along the Badulla - Mahiyangana road this morning.

The accident  occured at around 1:30 am in the vicinity of the Mahiyangana Maha Vidyalaya, police said.

A total of 12 persons were travelling in the van at the time of the accident out of which 10 had died. The other two victims are currently in a critical condition, police noted.

The remains of the deceased which include seven adults and three children currently lie at the Mahiyangana hospital.

Police suspect that the van had swerved off the correct lane after the driver had fallen asleep while driving the vehicle.

The victims of the accident have been identified as follows :

• Relington Joseph, 50
• Silvia Joseph, 50 (Wife of Relington Joseph)
• L. Alexander, 32
• Nisalin Alexander, 27 (Wife of L. Alexander)
• Hanali Alexander, 04 (Child of L. Alexander)
• Paiga Alexander, 04 (Child of L. Alexander)
• P. Hendrick, 48
• Fancia Hendrick, 42 (Wife of P. Hendrick)
• Serebi Hendrick, 10 (Daughter of P. Hendrick)
• Haid Hendrick, 19 (Son of P. Hendrick)

Meanwhile, the two victims who sustained injuries in the accident have been identified as follows ;

• Segani Hendrick, 13 (Daughter of P. Hendrick)
• Resani Burgesal, 16

(Pics by Palitha Ariyawangsa)