Girl, 16, critical after drunk driver hits pedestrians

A 16-YEAR-OLD girl was yesterday fighting for her life at Larnaca general hospital after she and a friend were knocked down while trying to cross the road, police said.

Christina Tsougnego and Stavroula Constantinou were run down as they tried to get across Faneromeni Avenue at around 9pm on Sunday. Only metres away there was a level crossing, reports said.

The two teens were rushed to hospital where Tsougnego was immediately put on respirator. Constantinou was kept in for treatment but was out of danger, police said.

Larnaca police spokesman Christos Andreou said the girls had been hit by 49-year-old Lythrodonda man.

“The two girls were injured and taken to Larnaca general hospital where they were kept in for treatment. The condition of one of the 16-year-olds is, according to her doctors, extremely serious and she is on a respirator,” said Andreou.

According to reports, the driver of the car said he had not seen the two 16-year-olds when he hit them.

Andreou added: “The driver was given an alcohol test with a reading of 23 milligrams and was arrested by police after an arrest warrant was issued.”

The legal drinking limit is 22mg.

Larnaca traffic police is examining the cause of the accident.

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