Four people were taken to hospital after two road collisions in Nicosia district on Saturday afternoon. Three were kept for further treatment, while two drivers tested positive in alcohol tests.
According to a police statement, at around 5 p.m. on Iroon Avenue in Engomi, a car driven by a 57-year-old collided, under circumstances being investigated, with a motorcycle travelling ahead of it and ridden by a 25-year-old.
After the collision, the car driver continued on his way and left the scene. Police officers found him a short time later nearby. The 57-year-old underwent an alcohol test, with a lower final reading of 89μg% instead of 22μg%, and was arrested for an offence committed in flagrante delicto. He was taken into custody.
The 25-year-old motorcyclist was taken to Nicosia General Hospital. After examination, it was found that he had not sustained a serious injury, and he was discharged. Nicosia Traffic Police are continuing their investigations.
Drunk drivers
In a second collision, at around 7 p.m., a vehicle driven by a 37-year-old collided, under circumstances being investigated, with a car travelling in the opposite lane on the Xyliatos–Lagoudera road. The car was driven by an 18-year-old, with another 18-year-old as a passenger.
All three people in the two vehicles were injured and taken to Nicosia General Hospital. They were found to have contusions and fractures and were kept for further treatment. The alcohol reading for the 18-year-old driver was zero, while the lower final reading for the 37-year-old was 70μg% instead of 22μg%. Peristerona Police Station is continuing its investigations.
Police said the two collisions were another reminder of the serious risks of driving under the influence of alcohol. According to statistics for the past five years, one in three fatal road collisions is due to alcohol consumption and/or drug use.
“These are factors that directly affect the ability to drive and can have tragic consequences, not only for the drivers themselves, but also for other unsuspecting road users,” police said.
Police reminded the public that driving under the influence of alcohol can cost lives and called on drivers “to act responsibly and not drive after consuming alcohol”.
Police checks across the road network are continuing, with the aim of identifying and removing drivers who put road safety at risk. During last night, alcohol tests were carried out on more than 220 drivers. Twenty-two tested positive and were removed from the road network. Another four drivers tested positive in preliminary drug tests and were also removed from the road.
Source: CNA
