Senthil Thondaman run over by driver of his own vehicle: one killed and 24 injured

Last evening when the driver of Uva Provincial Council UNFP candidate Mr. Senthil Thondaman had started the vehicle, it had moved forward without control and as a consequence Mr. Thondaman and some supporters who were on the road were subjected to an accident and the vehicle had finally stopped after colliding with a jeep.

One person lost his life while 24 persons suffered injuries and were admitted to Diyatalawa Hospital. Three persons
were in a serious condition. Francis, a 50 year old resident of Poonagala succumbed to his injuries when engaged in election propaganda activities at a time when election handbills were being distributed along Main Road of Bandarawela.

Mr. Thondaman has sustained injuries on his right arm and had been admitted to Diyatalawa Hospital after which he was despatched to Colombo National Hospital by now.

Among the injured in the accident are Municipal Member Mr. Ashok Kumar and 4 police officers.

Bandarawela Police said that Selvendran, the driver of the jeep had fled from the scene of the accident at the time the accident took place.

What the Police Media Spokesman said was that a three-pronged investigation is being carried out to ascertain whether this act was done with the motive of harming Mr. Thondaman or it was the cause of drunkenness or of applying pressure on the accelerator in a negligible manner.