Housemaid killed on bicycle

A 43-YEAR-old Indian housemaid was killed yesterday when a car ploughed into her bicycle as she was cycling to work in the Famagusta district, police said.

Thembi Kagarla was knocked down by a small van just after 7am on the Avgorou-Frenaros road near the industrial area.

The mother-of-two was thrown from the bicycle and hit her head on the tarmac. She was rushed to Famagusta general hospital and due to the severity of her condition was immediately transferred to Nicosia general hospital. She was placed on a respirator after suffering critical head injuries. Unfortunately, the 43-year-old succumbed by yesterday afternoon.

Famagusta Traffic Police Chief Giorgos Konias said the driver of the van remained at the scene until help arrived. An alcohol test came back clear, the officer said.

Although the cause of the accident is still under investigation, human error was to blame this time, he said.

The housemaid had been employed in Frenaros for the past two and a half years. She is the mother of two children who live in India.