Soldier in a coma after crash

A 20-YEAR-OLD National Guardsman seriously injured in a horrific car crash on the Nicosia to Palechori road just before dawn on Sunday was yesterday still in a coma at the Nicosia General hospital.

Police say excessive speed was the most likely cause for Marios Constantinou’s car veering off the road and smashing into an electricity pole near Arediou village, south of Nicosia. The force of the impact broke the pole in two – cutting electricity supply to 15 villages in the area for 10 hours – and left the soldier’s car a mangled mess.

Constsantinou, from Klirou village, was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to hospital. Doctors yesterday said he was in a coma and breathing with the help of a ventilator.

The Arediou Mukhtar, George Michail, said the stretch of road the accident happened on was an accident black spot and called on the government to widen to road, adding that he had lodged a relevant request with the Communications and Works Ministry four years ago.

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