A 37-year-old driver has been arrested in connection with a fatal road collision that claimed the life of 70-year-old road worker Savvas Ioannou on the Nicosia–Limassol motorway.
The driver, who sustained minor injuries, underwent alcohol and drug tests, both of which returned negative results. He was arrested under a court warrant to facilitate police investigations.
Fatal collision during roadworks
The crash occurred at approximately 19:25 on Thursday on the Nicosia–Limassol motorway, after the village of Moni, in the direction of Limassol.
According to preliminary information, the 37-year-old was driving a private vehicle when, under circumstances that are being examined, he collided with a mobile illuminated arrow sign positioned in the right lane, where roadworks were under way. Four other workers were present at the site at the time.
Following the impact, the vehicle struck and fatally injured Ioannou, who was placing traffic cones to close the right lane to traffic. The exact position of the victim at the time of the collision remains under investigation.
Police examining signage, speed and lighting conditions
Speaking from the scene, Limassol Traffic Police head Marios Charalambous said that the circumstances of the crash are under full investigation.
He noted that warning signage appeared to have been in place and will be documented and assessed as part of the inquiry. Witness accounts indicate that the illuminated arrow sign was operating at the time of the incident.
Asked whether speed may have been a factor, Charalambous said that all possibilities are being examined. He also pointed out that there is no street lighting in the area, a factor that will be taken into consideration during the investigation.
Authorities continue to gather evidence as part of efforts to establish the exact sequence of events leading to the fatal collision.