Two casualties over Christmas weekend

THE CHRISTMAS break was marred by one fatality and one serious injury to a girl, both on roads in the Nicosia district.

On Sunday, 19-year-old Christianos Nicolaou died in a car crash on 28 October Street, Makedonitissa. The accident occurred shortly after 4am.

Nicolaou was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by a 26-year old, which was also carrying a third passenger. Their car collided with a car driven by a 25-year-old.

From the fierce impact, Nicolaou’s car skidded off the tarmac, crashing into a pedestrian pavement and tipping over.

The 25-year-old driver of the second car was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment, but has since been released.

Police are urging any witnesses to come forth with any information, as the precise circumstances of the accident are unclear.

Meanwhile on Sunday, a 12-year-old girl from Geri was critically injured after being hit by a passing car while walking her bicycle along the road. Media reports said the child was out singing Christmas carols with relatives. The girl is in the intensive care unit. A judge denied a police request for an arrest warrant on the 41-year-old driver.

Over the four-day break, police conducted some 1,100 alcohol tests on the roads, with 115 motorists found to be driving under the influence.

Police had warned of a zero-tolerance policy for drink driving.

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