Biker races to his death

THIRTY-ONE people have been killed in road accidents since the beginning of the year, police said yesterday.

The number of deaths is up almost 35 per cent from 23 during the same period last year.

The grim toll was disclosed in the wake of yet another road accident in Limassol on Sunday, which left a 19-year-old man dead and another in serious condition in hospital.

Police said Savvas Savva was killed at around 6pm during a motorcycle race with 18-year-old Demetris Skeparnides on the Limassol to Yermasoyia road.

Eyewitnesses said the accident happened when the youths overtook a smaller motorcycle ahead of them in a pincer movement, one from the left and the other from the right, colliding into each other once they had passed the bike.

Savva was hurled off the bike and killed instantly while his motorcycle crashed into a car.

Skeparnides was dragged along the tarmac by his motorcycle, sustaining serious injury.

Neither was wearing a helmet.

Both were rushed to hospital. Savva was pronounced dead, while Skeparnides was sent to the intensive care unit in serious but not life-threatening condition.

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