A car overturned on the Southern Expressway, a woman died; two injured

A woman died and two others were injured when a car carrying three people, including a couple, overturned on the Southern Expressway the day before yesterday (24) evening, according to the Police Media Spokesperson's Office. The deceased has been identified as 51-year-old Indra Gandhi Jothiraja, a resident of Canal Road area, Wattala. Police say she was the driver's aunt (mother's younger sister).

The driver's 30-year-old wife sustained serious injuries in the accident, while the 36-year-old driver sustained minor injuries and has been hospitalized. Preliminary police investigations have revealed that the accident occurred when the car, traveling from Colombo towards Mattala, collided with the left-side safety cable barrier and then with the right-side central safety barrier between Baddagama and Pinnaduwa, specifically between the 89.61 km and 89.71 km marks, causing it to overturn and come to rest upside down in the middle of the road.

After the injured were admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, the 52-year-old woman passed away. The driver's wife is receiving treatment in the intensive care unit, and the injured driver is receiving treatment in ward number 58, police said. Police are investigating whether the accident was caused by the driver falling asleep or a tire bursting. Police also stated that the collision caused significant damage to both the safety barrier and the car.