A two-year-old baby died and eight others seriously injured when a van skidded and toppled at the 23.1 km mile post between Dodangoda and Gelanigama exits on the Southern Expressway today, police said.

The deceased was identified as Fathima Hamsa (02).

The van had entered the Expressway at Pinnaduwa in Galle for a journey to Kurunegala through Colombo.

Investigations revealed that the vehicle had gone out of control due to a tyre puncture of a front wheel, veered off the lane and toppled.  

The injured were admitted to Nagoda Hospital in Kalutara. (Text and pix by Siri Mahabellana, Kusal Chamath)