Fuel tank bore brunt of impact - Investigators

Rafik Jalaldeen and Mohamed Naalir

GALLE: It emerged yesterday that the fuel tank of the SLTB bus bore the brunt of the impact caused by the collision of the beer truck. The fuel tank erupted in flames which engulfed the whole bus, killing 23 people on Tuesday in Induruwa.

Sixty others suffered injuries, Kosgoda police said.

According to Kosgoda police Government Analyst had visited the scene on the day of incident and dispatched samples to Colombo. “Soon we will know the exact cause of the collision when the GA submits their final reports,” sources added.

The drivers of the beer container truck and the bus were among the dead. The container driver died on the spot and the bus driver died on admission to the Balapitiya base hospital. The bodies of the drivers were burnt and it is difficult to determine whether any of them was drunk, the police said.

Investigators believe that the container driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel seconds prior to the impact.

Eyewitnesses said the bus driver had tried to safeguard the bus and the commuters as far as possible but he could not take evasive action in the split second it took for the truck to hit the bus.

The commuters in the bus were on their way to colombo for various purposes. Former Ginthota Pradeshiya Member and one of the passengers of the ill-fated bus Gamini Paranawitharana who had a narrow escape said that due to the lack of water and fire brigades many passengers died burning in the accident.

Another passenger said he was sitting in the back seat of the bus. A container vehicle came straight towards their bus and hit it. The bus overturned and caught fire producing huge flames.

Residents of the area said they heard a huge explosion but did not see the incident. When they came out, they saw the CTB bus and the front part of the container burning. They were able to save more than sixty five persons.