Veteran actor Jackson Anthony, who was admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital with injuries after his vehicle collided with a wild elephant at Thalawa, Anuradhapura on Saturday was transferred to the intensive care unit of the Colombo National Hospital yesterday.
Jackson Anthony and two others were injured when the vehicle they were travelling collided with a wild elephant crossing the road in Thalawa, Moragoda.
Jackson Anthony had been driving the car and his brother had been seated next to him and another person who is said to be an aide to Anthony had been in the back seat.
The accident occurred while they were returning to Anuradhapura accommodation after finishing the night shooting at a temple in Galgamuwa.
It is reported that the wild elephant fell on the cab twice.
The cab has been seriously damaged. The police say that the wild elephant may have been seriously injured as well.
Anthony’s brother Ashoka Saman Anthony is now being treated at I.C.U. at Anuradhapura teaching hospital. The other person who was injured is also under medical treatment at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital. His condition is not serious, hospital sources said.
According to the police, Jackson Anthony was thrown forward due to the impact and his chest area had hit the steering wheel.
Thilan Samaraweera, a doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, said that Jackson Anthony’s two bones in the neck area have been damaged and his lungs have been damaged as well.
He also said that due to the injuries to the lungs, two tubes have been inserted.
Dr. Thilan Samaraweera said that Jackson Anthony was transferred to the Neuro Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital because his condition was serious.
Jackson Anthony was slated to undergo surgery in Colombo today.
Meanwhile, the elephant that fell on the road with the impact of the accident, remained there a while and fled to the jungle in the vicinity, the villagers said. The villagers took measures to admit them to the hospital.
They had been on their way back to their lodge after a shooting of the Sinhabahu teledrama at the site of Hasthi Kuchci historic temple located in Anuradhapura.
Many said that in this area on the Padeniya-Anuradhapura road many vehicles had met with accidents involving wild elephants.
The villagers said that the area is an elephant pass and there is a road sign too, but it is faded now.
The villagers also said that the street lights at this area too are not functioning and the drivers cannot see the elephants at night properly. a Police are conducting investigations.
