Six people were killed and seven others injured after a cab crashed into a crowd waiting in a queue at a Vesak dansala near Meegoda Junction on Sunday night.
According to Police, the accident occurred on the High Level Road in the Meegoda Police Division when a cab travelling from Avissawella towards Colombo ploughed into a group of people standing in line at the dansala.
A total of 13 injured persons were admitted to the Homagama Hospital following the incident. Police said three men and three women had succumbed to their injuries by the time they were admitted to hospital.
The deceased men, aged between 35 and 38, were residents of Hanwella and Avissawella, while the deceased women, aged between 15 and 56, were residents of the Piliyandala area.
Police officers on duty at the Meegoda Junction immediately responded to the incident and arrested the driver along with the cab while he was allegedly attempting to flee the scene.
The suspect, a 42-year-old resident of Piliyandala, was found to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, Police said.
Seven injured victims continue to receive treatment at the Homagama Hospital, while Meegoda Police are conducting further investigations. (Newswire)
