School van-bus collision injures 14 students

Chami Dasunika (12) a student of Devi Balika, Colombo at the Wathupitiwela hospital.Pix by Nimal Dayaratne

By Madura Ranwala

Fourteen school children studying at several schools in Colombo were injured when their school van collided with a private bus at Horagolla yesterday morning.

The drivers of the van and bus, too, received injuries.

Police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said that the accident had taken place around 5.30 a.m. along the Colombo-Kandy road. The 23-year-old van driver had attempted to overtake another vehicle and crashed into a bus going in the opposite direction. Among the 14 injured children – nine boys and five girls – was the van owner’s child, who is warded at the National Hospital in a critical condition. His parents had bought the vehicle because they wanted to ensure that he travelled in safety and comfort.National Hospital Director Dr. Anil Jayasinghe told The Island that nine students were being treated at the hospital and the condition of one of them was grave. He said that of the nine, three were Deva Balika students and six were Anandians.

Wathupitiwela Hospital Director Dr. Sisira Wijesundara told The Island that they had only two students, a boy and girl and the two drivers being treated at the hospital as the other victims had been transferred to the National Hospital and Colombo North Teaching Hospital.

He said that some of them had sustained fractures in their arm and legs.

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