TWO PEOPLE - a 29-year-old man and 80-year-old woman - were killed yesterday in separate road accidents in Limassol and Larnaca while a third is in critical condition following an accident on Friday night. Three people have been arrested in connection with the accidents.
The 29-year-old was killed riding his high-powered motorcycle without a helmet, while the pensioner was hit by a car trying to cross the road on her way to church. A third man was seriously injured when his car hit a rescue truck parked in a dimly lit area.
At around 1.20am yesterday, 29-year-old Stelios Elias was riding his high-powered motorcycle on Leontiou A Street in Limassol very near to the city’s traffic police headquarters when he lost control, and was flung on to the road.
Limassol traffic police officer Emilios Kaffas said Elias was not wearing a protective helmet at the time. “And based on preliminary investigations, it appears due to his high speed, he lost control, resulting in him hitting the asphalt and sustaining serious injuries,” said Kaffas.
He was rushed to Limassol hospital where he died around 30 minutes later as a result of his injuries.
Four hours later at around 6.30am, 80-year-old Anna Loizou from Karpasia was killed trying to cross the road at a spot where the traffic lights were not working in Larnaca. A 33-year-old man from Aradippou was driving his car on Ioanni Kranidiotis Avenue when in conditions still under investigation, he hit the elderly lady..
The 80-year-old was rushed to Larnaca General Hospital where she died soon after.
Larnaca police spokesman Christos Andreou confirmed that the woman was hit while using the pedestrian crossing.
“The traffic lights at the specific spot where the accident occurred were not in operation,” he added.
The 33-year-old driver, who tested clean for alcohol consumption, was arrested to assist with inquiries.
According to Larnaca Press Agency, Loizou was on her way to church, where she went every Saturday. Her funeral will take place tomorrow at 11am at the Ayia Thekli Church in Ayion Anargyron estate in Larnaca.
A third person suffered serious injuries in a road accident on Friday night.
At around 8.30pm in Ipsonas in the Limassol district, 24-year-old Antonis Elias sustained serious injuries when his double cabin vehicle hit a parked rescue truck.
While driving on Elia Venezi Street in Ipsonas, the 24-year-old lost control and hit a pick-up truck parked on the right side of the road.
Due to the seriousness of his injuries, Elias was transferred to Nicosia General Hospital where he was kept in the intensive care unit having suffered a fractured neck and head injuries.
Meanwhile, police have arrested the 35-year-old driver and 49-year-old owner of the rescue truck for questioning.
Police believe the truck was parked in a “dangerous” area, while lighting in the area was also inadequate for the driver to easily spot the truck’s location.