THE DEFENCE ministry has ordered the immobilisation of all vehicles of the type involved in a road accident in the Famagusta district that killed an army reservist.
Iacovos Hadjispyrou, a reservist second lieutenant, was killed on Tuesday after the truck he was travelling in overturned during an exercise.
The 43-year-old father of two, who was in the front passenger seat, was thrown out and crushed by the ACMAT truck. Five others, including the driver were injured.
Defence Minister Costas Papacostas said all French-made ACMAT vehicles had been immobilised for precautionary reasons pending an inspection.
Experts – including a mechanic appointed by the family – yesterday examined the truck, which witnesses said had problems with the gearbox before the accident.
“When we reached the company… Iacovos, told us that the gearstick was shaking and he had been forced to hold it,” said Michalis Shiantanis, 38, one of the passengers at the rear of the truck.
Shiantanis told state radio the accident happened on the way back, but there was no way of knowing because they had no mechanical knowledge.
“It seems that this was a sign that something was wrong,” he said.
He said they were not speeding and the differential split through the middle causing the fatal accident.
“It could have been worse … the minister, the government, parliament must take measures,” Shiantanis said.
He said some of the vehicles in the National Guard were over 20-years-old and needed replacement.
“If they are maintained or not, it is shown by the result. The result shows there is a problem that cost us a life, a colleague who left his job to serve the National Guard,” Shiantanis said.
Evangelos Kelis, 42, was also riding in the rear of the truck.
“From what we knew, the vehicle had absolutely no problem, that is why we boarded,” he said.
Kelis said at some point the automatic gearbox started to shake and then the truck overturned.
He got out of the truck and looked for his friend Iacovos whom he found outside the vehicle in a ditch.
The defence minister vowed that sanctions will be imposed if the investigation finds any wrongdoing.
