COLOMBO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A woman died while 10 others were injured when a van that was returning from the Sri Lankan international airport skidded off the road on Wednesday, said local police.
These were friends and families of a person who was leaving for a foreign job, said the police.
The police said the driver of the vehicle had fallen asleep on the wheel and those injured had been hospitalized.
A large number of accidents have taken place in the morning as drivers fall asleep on the wheel, added the police.
NIhal Thalduwa, spokesman for the police, said they have recommended that drivers get adequate sleep after long hours of work, but many drivers ignored the recommendation.
An average of 38,000 vehicle accidents take place annually in Sri Lanka, resulting in around 3,000 deaths and 8,000 serious injuries, according to the police. ■