The police have started investigations into whether there is a third vehicle involved in the car accident that killed the Minister of State for Water Supply Sanath Nishantha and his security guard last Thursday (25).Sri Lanka Latest News
A senior police officer said that since the drivers of the two vehicles had declared that there was a third vehicle, the highway police had been informed to investigate and report it.
According to the statements of the drivers of the state minister’s vehicle and the container involved in the accident, and according to police investigations, a combination of factors including speeding, carelessness, poor street lighting and failure to yield to a third vehicle led to the accident.
The minister’s driver, Prabhat Eranga 29, stated in his statement to the police that the state minister was willing to come home soon. At the time of the accident, the jeep was traveling at a high speed of 150 kmph and at times exceeded that speed.
The driver of the container car, who was released on bail, said that he observed the accident jeep trying to overtake another car with its lights on. Accordingly, he said that he realized that both vehicles were driving dangerously and moved his vehicle to the left side of the double lane highway. However, as the other vehicle was passing his container, the jeep collided with the back of the container.
According to the police, the minister’s driver said that while he was trying to overtake the other car on the left, he saw the container in front of him, but could not bring the vehicle to the right side of the road due to fear. It collided with the other vehicle that was traveling parallel to him and crashed into the container. The jeep spun and hit the iron fence on the left.
The minister and his bodyguard, Mr. Anuradha Jayakodi, were immediately taken to Ragama Hospital, where they were reportedly dead on admission. The driver was also admitted to the hospital and he is currently under remand and receiving treatment.
