GIORGOS Kamilaris, 25, was killed in Larnaca yesterday when his motorbike crashed with a car driven by a 20-year-old learner driver at about 2.45am.
The learner driver was with a 40-year-old woman passenger who initially claimed she had been driving. The car belonged to her.
However, the police had a witness testimony contradicting her claim, and placing the 20-year-old in the driver’s seat, Larnaca police spokesman Christos Andreou said.
According to police, the 20-year-old had tried to turn right from Makarios Avenue onto Archbishop Kyprianos Avenue, hitting Kamilari’s motorbike, which was moving in the opposite direction on Makarios Avenue.
The crash – on the car’s left-hand side – shattered the window and dented the left door.
Kamilaris – who hailed from a village in the Larnaca district - was taken to Larnaca general hospital where he died.
The 20-year-old measured within the permitted alcohol consumption levels.
It was not clear yesterday whether the woman passenger was aware of Kamillaris’ death when she took the blame.
The two women were arrested but were not charged yesterday, Andreou said.
He added that police were examining the exact circumstances of the accident.
The 20-year-old is being investigated in relation to causing death by negligence and the 40-year-old for giving false information to a police officer.
Learner drivers are permitted to drive as long as they are accompanied by a licence holder.