Three soldiers seriously injured in tipper accident

Three army soldiers suffered serious injuries and were admitted to the Dambulla Hospital after the tipper they were traveling in crashed into a tree at Bobella, Naula along the Dambulla-Matale Main Road this morning (14). 

Naula Police stated that the injured were the army driver and two other soldiers in the tipper, which was traveling from Pallekale to Vavuniya. 

Police said the accident had happened in rainy weather while the vehicle was traveling at high speed, resulting in the tipper veering off the road and crashing into a tree. It had then traveled some 30 metres further before coming to a stop. 

The impact of the crash had thrown the two passengers out of the vehicle and trapped the driver inside. Bystanders managed to rescue all three and take them to hospital. 

Police suspect that the driver either lost control of the vehicle due to excessive speed or that he had fallen asleep at the wheel. Investigations are ongoing. 

Text and Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa