16-year-old student dies in a motorcycle crash

Two 16-year-old school students travelling on a motorcycle crashed into a utility pole in the Makuluduwa area this morning (27).

Piliyandala Police stated that one student died at the scene, while the other sustained serious injuries and has been hospitalised.

The deceased student was an eleventh-grade pupil and a resident of the Nivanthidiya area in Piliyandala.

According to the Police, the force of the impact caused the front wheel and several other parts of the motorcycle to break off.

Police investigations revealed that the motorcycle was an "assembled" bike (not a factory-standard vehicle) and had been fitted with an air filter from a different motorcycle to increase its speed.

Investigations also uncovered that the deceased student did not possess a valid driver's licence, and the pillion rider who sustained serious injuries was not wearing a safety helmet at the time of the crash.

It has been revealed that the incident occurred when the student attempted to overtake a three-wheeler and lost control of the vehicle due to high speed, subsequently crashing into the utility pole.

A hospital spokesperson stated that the pillion rider, who was seriously injured, was admitted to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital, while the rider was already deceased upon admission to the Piliyandala District Hospital.

Piliyandala Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.