Conscript killed in motorway crash

AN 18-YEAR-old conscript was killed yesterday in a road accident.

Demetris Demetriou from Limassol was fatally injured on the Limassol-Nicosia motorway just after 1pm. The accident occurred in the Kakoratzia area, opposite the Cyprus Telecommunication Authority’s Makarios Satellite Earth Station, where traffic headed for Limassol was limited to one-lane, police said.

According to investigators the teenager was driving an army truck when, under circumstances being investigated, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the central reservation barrier. Police said the youth was catapulted from the truck and critically injured.

He was rushed to Nicosia general hospital where, despite doctors’ efforts to save him, he died two hours later.

His 20-year-old passenger, Andreas Kyriakides, was slightly injured in the accident and was reported to be suffering from shock.

A 46-year-old Limassol van driver also crashed into the army truck. Costakis Charalambous injured his chest upon impact. He received first aid at Nicosia general hospital and was allowed to go home.

Police said the army truck was returning to its unit in the Larnaca district.