A 52-year-old woman was killed and 12 others were injured after a small lorry veered off the road and crashed into a tree in the Mudalakkuliya area of Anamaduwa at around 1.00 p.m. on Saturday, Ada Derana reported.
The 13 occupants were returning to Polonnaruwa after worshipping at the Munneswaram Temple in Chilaw when the vehicle left the road and struck the tree, police said. All those on board were taken to the Anamaduwa Hospital, where the woman — a resident of Aralaganwila — succumbed to her injuries.
Two of the injured were transferred to the Puttalam Base Hospital for further treatment in a serious condition. The remainder were being treated at Anamaduwa Hospital, the broadcaster said.
Police suspect the driver fell asleep at the wheel before losing control of the lorry. The Anamaduwa Police are continuing investigations into the incident.
The crash adds to a steady run of fatal road incidents this cycle, including the Meegoda Vesak dansala cab crash that killed six and the Punanai three-wheeler-tipper collision at the start of June.
