Argentinean peacekeeper dies in fatal crash

A 33-YEAR-OLD Argentinian UN soldier stationed in Cyprus was killed in a car accident off Anthoupoli roundabout yesterday, while a second peacekeeper was seriously wounded, police said.

In a tragic turn of events, the car driven by a 35-year-old Argentinian with the 33-year-old in the passenger seat crashed onto a vehicle that was parked on the emergency lane of the Kokkynotrymithia-Troodos road, by Anthoupoli roundabout. The parked car had engine problems and was abandoned by its driver the previous night.

“At 5.30am a small Subaru car making its way from Nicosia to Kokkynotrymithia at some point swerved left and violently crashed into a parked car on the left of the road,” said Alkis Kyriakou Nicosia traffic head.

The 33-year-old died instantly, while the 35-year-old sustained serious injuries. Both men were stuck in their car and the Fire Service was called in to rescue them. Both were taken to Nicosia General Hospital where the 35-year-old remains.

“The cause of the accident was again the human element and police are investigating every possibility,” Kyriakou said.

Meanwhile, the owner of the abandoned car explained how he was forced to leave his vehicle by the side of the road as both a private road rescue company and two police patrol cars did not respond to his call for help, the night before the fatal accident.

“I had problems with my car and at 11pm I called a private road rescue company but they did not pick up. I then tried to stop two police patrol cars that were passing by but they didn’t stop. So, I parked the car as much to the left of the road as I could and I called my wife, who came and picked me up. At 2am the police went and put warning signs at the spot. Then, I was informed of what had happened,” Demetris Christodoulou said yesterday.

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