Nine students injured as school van rams bus

Van travelling at high speed tried to overtake private bus:

Yasaratne Gamage and Suranjith Perera

Nine school boys were injured, two critically, when a van transporting schoolchildren collided with a private bus at Mount Lavinia yesterday around 6.50 a.m.

The two seriously injured students and six others were admitted to Kalubowila Hospital while one was transferred to the Colombo General Hospital. Two were later discharged after OPD treatment. Sources said the injured students are from a leading school in Colombo.

The van plying towards Colombo with nine schoolboys, was trying to overtake another vehicle when it collided with a private bus travelling in the opposite direction and then rammed into an electric post totally damaging the vehicle.

Police Media Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said according to eye witnesses the van was travelling at high speed when it ran out of control.

Appealing to parents, the SP said that they should be vigilant about drivers who take their offspring to schools because reckless driving can result in serious consequences.

“Parents should advise their children to monitor the way drivers operate their vehicles,” he said.

Heavy traffic was seen due to the congestion caused by the accident in Mount Lavinia yesterday morning. The injured van driver who is receiving treatment at the accident ward in Kalubowila Hospital, will be taken into custody and stern action taken against him. “The Police will also obtain statements from the students and the bus driver, he said.

The Police said that they found the van was not in a proper condition to transport schoolchildren.