First fatal accident on E01

3 February 2012 01:25 am - 49 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A 26-year-old was killed when his car skidded off the road on the Southern Expressway (E01) reporting the first fatal accident on the expressway.

The victim was identified as the manager of a private establishment in Matara, Poltupitiyage Arosh Yeshan Cooray (26) of Dehiwala.

Inquiries revealed that the car ran off the road at the 21.1 kilometre post and had crashed into a wayside boulder. The body of the victim is currently at the Nagoda Hospital. The wreckage of the car was handed over to the Kalutara North Police.

Police are conducting further inquiries into the incident. (Buddhika Kumarasiri and Sarath Siriwardene) (Pix by Sarath Siriwardene)

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Comments - 49

Mario Perera Friday, 03 February 2012 09:03 AM

Where is the Air bag if this is a new car,Mind you, Air bag will not wok if the seat belt is not on,A word of advise to all

garawi Friday, 03 February 2012 06:17 AM

European Highways are different from Freeways and Expressways!

Jagath Friday, 03 February 2012 06:15 AM

Did anyone notice any damage to Dashboard?

Was he wearing Seat Belts?
Where were the Air BAGS?

Anushka Friday, 03 February 2012 06:18 AM

Sad!! Tragic Incident.. Thats all. All other factors are irrelevant .

Jagath Dahanayake Friday, 03 February 2012 06:30 AM

In a country where driving lessons/licences can be obtained by "Mail", it is a wonder that 2 months elapsed before a fatal accident! Further, lot of our drivers think that others should not overtake them, and try to block the way. This happened to me on E01 on the 28th January, twice., once by a private bus driver, and the other time by a van driver, and I had to toot the horn! I wonder if the policemen on duty consider this aspect also, when trying to discipline the drivers.

Chika Friday, 03 February 2012 06:29 AM

its not the problem, i have used this road for many a times. fyi speed limit is only 100 km/h not 160 km/h

Lanka Friday, 03 February 2012 06:40 AM

It does not matter what high way you drive, till you put away all the reckless drivers for good this will continue !

SpaceCab Friday, 03 February 2012 06:36 AM

I was one of those idiots who drove at 180km. luckily i didn't meet with an accident. once i completed the journey what a stupid thing i did. swore i will never do it again. but the crucial question is where are the cops???

Chika Friday, 03 February 2012 06:39 AM

Something wrong with you

guesr Friday, 03 February 2012 06:40 AM

Problem is not the road but the driver.

guesr Friday, 03 February 2012 06:42 AM

problem is not the road but the driver

John Friday, 03 February 2012 07:03 AM

Most SL drivers need to be educated on motorway driving as its new to the country (where as it is there's little discipline on roads anyway). Why cannot the authorities think of BASICS like having brief slots on TV in cartoon format in all languages, to show visually the rules of fast (sensible) driving. Pictures are better than words. We spend billions on the mega stuff, but ignore SIMPLE effective messages?

aa Friday, 03 February 2012 07:07 AM

I guess he didnt wear seat belts

pasha Friday, 03 February 2012 05:57 AM

I think this driver in suicide mission

Sithija Friday, 03 February 2012 09:55 AM

He could have been live if he was wearing the seat belts. Look at the pics, nothing badly happened to the driver seating areas. Surely he was killed when he was thrown out from his seat.

Lesson learnt "ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS WHEN DRIVING... NO MATTER WHERE, HOW FAR, WHICH SEAT YOU GO"

RIP Arosh

Dr Bandara Friday, 03 February 2012 09:51 AM

E01 is good for 120Km/hr just at its start. After 2 months the road got settled and created road flooring waves. Now the road can be driven at 60km/hr safely. Road is still settling with its soil bases and bridge foundations up to 200mm. It is time to review E01's condition now and rectify floor settlement issues. Tks!

Dilshan Friday, 03 February 2012 09:58 AM

@Ranjith Gurugamage,
C'mon... just because some of people fail in reaching their destinations do not mean that their paths have misleaded them or miscommunicated.. it requires the practice and the ability....
even you might as well come across millions things in your life where you'f have probebly gone wrong....

so stop completing for ones in your life......

Thara Friday, 03 February 2012 09:58 AM

I have used the highway several times. Once I saw a driver speeding on the right lane with his hazard lights blinking which was totally wrong. Some drivers use only the right lane but do not enter the left lane at all. It is useless of trying to teaching Srilankan drivers who are careless and cruise as they are in a big hurry. However, when they work they are never being punctual. The cops are just waiting and see but I do not think they run after these reckless drivers.
Where are the CCTV cameras installed on this highway?

gamage Saturday, 04 February 2012 03:45 AM

the awearness of driving in highway has to be done by the insurance companies as the vehicles are insured the training could be given by the insurance and the police hold classes to find most of the drivers needs to be trained and therewill be zero accidents that is what I feel this country need educated citizens

gamage Saturday, 04 February 2012 03:52 AM

what had happend has happened the police should keep the eyes opend. the people who use the highway should be given a good training the police could keep a vigilant eye on people who makes mistakes insted of fines mostly to give classes to be attended, after which the licence could be given back after the training is over.

mush Saturday, 04 February 2012 06:46 AM

all this happens coz drivers have no common sense to stick to their lane and do not use signals.

Apalanka Saturday, 04 February 2012 03:32 PM

this is only test run on the E01 highway. There will be
more to follow. Good luck

Krishanth Koralalage Saturday, 04 February 2012 07:02 PM

Do you know that SriLanka's brain drain is so enormus and now there is nobody to formulate proper z-score for university selection ?.

Prasanga Saturday, 04 February 2012 09:39 PM

govt cant be blamed for the mistakes people make

nimwet Sunday, 05 February 2012 12:58 AM

Enforce the law for 100 K MPH For two years. Need a training period for drivers.

Ranja Friday, 03 February 2012 03:04 AM

Your comment makes sense. I guess E01 has reduced the number of accidents compared to other roads. If our driver are more careful and disciplined we can reduce more accidents.

shal Friday, 03 February 2012 02:19 AM

Driving in this E01 is a good TEST to assess the skills of drivers. Successors will be flourished and the rest will be perished!!!

weha Friday, 03 February 2012 02:32 AM

Speed Kills

Dalu Banda Friday, 03 February 2012 02:36 AM

May he attain Nibbana.

jack Friday, 03 February 2012 02:37 AM

Government told before opening the expressway zero accident in this road. But now 100 more accident in less then three month. Becouse of two way lane. For the expressway minimum need three lane.

jterm Friday, 03 February 2012 02:37 AM

I was recently on the expressway for the first time and I was shocked at the manner in which some drivers were conducting themselves on the road. A small nano almost side-swiped my SUV while I was overtaking him because he simply didn't have the driving skill to stick to his lane. the maximum speed I reached was 120kph (for a very short period of time during overtaking), however, there were enough vehicles doing around 160kph-200kph without being pulled over by the cops. So we have a long way to go before we all safe on the highway.

adel Friday, 03 February 2012 02:33 AM

A clear indication of the road sense we have. I hope we as drivers will use common sense, we considerate about ourselved and other on the road, so that we can contribute to reduce accidents.

Analysis Friday, 03 February 2012 02:35 AM

Well! Sad situation though it was not IF but WHEN. So it has happened. TVs should run a campaign to educate Motorway driving in safety perspective!

MW Friday, 03 February 2012 02:39 AM

yep. there are some who deserve this for reckless driving.

Achari Friday, 03 February 2012 02:41 AM

I think 1st the relevant authorities should check the quality of the carpet they have used as there are being hundreds of Fatal accidents from the day E01 was opened.

sajith Friday, 03 February 2012 02:57 AM

There haven't been hundred of fatal accidents.People who drive on these roads should know how to control a vehicle at high speed and have a vehicle in good roadworthy condition before trying to break speed records.

roshan raz Friday, 03 February 2012 03:13 AM

dont blame the road or authorities for the recjless driving of our stupid drivers. see thousands of vehicles are reacvhing their destination safely and quickly. dont be so ignorant

Ranjith Gurugamage Friday, 03 February 2012 01:50 AM

This is what all are waiting for

roshan raz Friday, 03 February 2012 03:14 AM

even there are 10 lanes you can not stiop accidents as long as they drive recklessly. dont blame the road or govt.

Sumathipala Friday, 03 February 2012 03:07 AM

There is nothing wrong with the highway. I have driven around 500000 miles on european highways. Our expressway is well done. The problem is with the poor condition of some vehicles and the poor knowledge of some drivers. Most of the drivers in SL should be stripped of their license for lifetime as they are not only endanger themselves also others day by day. Changing of lane's without indication, just no experience,looking back-driving front, talking, eating, make calls, write SMS and so many other things. Getting a driving license says nothing, the reality is different. You need experience. Much education is needed, higher spotfines, a system to snatch licenses and prohibit driving for some months and honest cops which take action if they catch one without license. How many times I saw people were on their mobile phone, after being caught, and handover the phone to the traffic cop thereafter. That has to be stopped. One law for everyone.

MM Friday, 03 February 2012 04:48 AM

Do not speak ill of the dead. I don't think you'd say this if it was your brother or friend. Shame on you!!

Lankan Friday, 03 February 2012 04:50 AM

when the jokers driving on the express way same things happen to them. I drive on this express way once. it is ok to drive 100 or 110 kmph. but some crazy drivers drive over 160km speed after tell some one and it is very proud them self. but one day same for them. I am very proud we have a expressway to drive. but the drivers are ignore the rules and regulations. the fine is not enough they must charge maximum and cancelled the driving license.Thanks.

farieze rumi Friday, 03 February 2012 05:12 AM

modern day incidents.

perera Friday, 03 February 2012 05:12 AM

YOU DO NOT NEED 3 LANES FOR A MOTORWAY/EXPRESS WAY.
YOU NEED SENSIBLE DRIVERS WHO OBEY RULES AND JUDGE CONDITIONS.
AS FOR THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN WHO SAID ZERO ACCIDENTS MUST HAVE BEEN ON DRUGS. THE STUPID IDIOT

najeeb Friday, 03 February 2012 05:26 AM

Dont blame the govt or the authorities for such accidents. Each and every driver on the wheel should realize how to control the vehicle at any given time. Also, the driver MUST realize that if any accident happens, its his life. In short, his life is in his own hands.

Max Friday, 03 February 2012 05:28 AM

100kmph will not cause any accidents but those who going over the speed limit are.. I have heard so many idiots boasting that they drive at 180kmph in the E01..

Afzal Friday, 03 February 2012 05:28 AM

if the vehicle is a English number why he didn't wear the seat belt and the air bag of the vehicle might i have saved his life

kondebendapucheena Friday, 03 February 2012 05:21 AM

Now days for every thing People blame Authority,come on guys wake up accident do happen and people die life go on.Nothing wrong with the road it is who drive must take extra care them self

Citizen Friday, 03 February 2012 05:22 AM

May his soul rest in peace!
nothing wrong with road,but drivers should be very carefull and strictly adhered to the rules.Thats all!!

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First fatal accident on E01

Comments - 49

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