How Australian mother and daughter die from Expressway accident

An Australian mother and daughter died yesterday after having succumbed to an accident close to Kurundugahahetepma access when they were travelling in a Hi Ace van on Southern Expressway to a hotel in Tangalla area from Katunayaka airport.

Those who had died from the said accident were Australian national Colin Lewis Monica (37) the

mother and her 4 year ld daughter, Poppy Gabriel. While the father and their 2 year old son who are seriously injured are being treated at Nagoda hospital, the driver of the van and the driver of the container are receiving treatment at Elpitiya hospital.

Because of a deflated tyre of a container which had been travelling from Colombo in the direction of Matara, the driver and his helper had parked the container alongside the Southern Expressway near 65.1 km post and had been attending to the problem when the van proceeding towards Matara had crashed onto the rear-side of the container and had toppled.

In this accident the front part of the van was completely damaged while the driver of the container who was engaged in changing the tyre had got thrown under the van and sustained serious injury. He had been subjected to a surgery at Elpitiya hospital, it was reported. Police suspect that the driver of the van may have dozed off and this accident has happened as a result. He has been taken into custody and is undergoing treatment at Elpitiya hospital. It has also been observed at investigations that the said van had been travelling at a rapid pace at that moment, exceeding the limits. After the van had struck the container, the container has got pushed forward from the impact, police say. It is understood that even by the time the victims, mother and daughter were admitted to Nagoda hospital, they had already passed away. Investigations are being conducted in connection with the issue of changing tyres on the expressway without due permission.