A killer road accident shocked Eppawala yesterday afternoon. Five out of six persons travelling in a trishaw including the driver died in a collision with a military bus.

Four of the victims were members of the same family, among them a grandmother.

Two persons died on the spot in the mishap that occurred at Tiralogama. Three others succumbed to their injuries after admission to hospital. The only survivor is a woman identified as Dayani Herath. She is receiving treatment at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

The ill-fated trishaw, which was reduced to a complete wreck, had been travelling from Weliakkere to Anuradhapura, when a bus carrying about 25 military personnel collided with it.

Police Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara told The Island that according to his information the road conditions had been normal. "No inclement weather was reported," he said, "nor was the road slippery."

The Eppawala police have launched an investigation to establish the cause of the accident. The police team includes SI Rukmal Ratnayake and PCs Ariyasena (28063) and Seneviratne (31495) under the directions of OIC Chief Inspector Samarasena.