In an ongoing effort to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision that claimed four lives on the Limassol – Platres road just half an hour into the New Year, investigators are working to establish the speed at which the 44-year-old driver’s vehicle collided with a small sedan carrying the victims.
The Limassol Traffic Police have secured testimony from a taxi driver who was at the scene during the tragedy.
This witness, sought by authorities since the incident, voluntarily presented himself and recounted that he approached the scene after the collision but left, claiming he was afraid.
On Thursday, authorities plan to conduct a reconstruction of the fatal incident, aiming to derive precise conclusions about the tragic event.
The reconstruction, coupled with video footage, is anticipated to confirm the speed at which the 44-year-old was driving when he collided with the victims’ vehicle. Traffic experts have already conducted scientific examinations on the involved vehicles, with on-site indications by the suspect expected in the coming days.
Contrary to the suspect’s claims, ground examinations revealed no skid marks, and evidence contradicts his version of events. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station recorded the intense collision.
A female witness, a passenger in a vehicle waiting at a red light on Ayias Anastasias Street, described the incident, claiming she saw the 44-year-old’s pickup truck speeding through the intersection and colliding with the sedan driven by 27-year-old Evanthia.
The 44-year-old driver, who was discharged from the hospital yesterday, is now in custody. Traffic Police had requested a six-day detention from the court to complete examinations, citing the risk of the suspect fleeing.
During questioning, the driver insisted he crossed the intersection with a green light, a claim contradicted by video evidence. Investigators are also exploring the possibility that the suspect accelerated beforehand to beat a green light. Charges of causing death by negligence and violation of traffic signals are being considered.
Surveillance footage confirmed that the accident occurred during the transition of traffic lights from green to red for vehicles moving in both directions on Yiannou Kranidioti Street. The suspect’s pickup truck appeared to violate the red light and enter the intersection at an increased speed.
At the same time, the vehicle carrying the four victims approached the intersection at a low speed. The small sedan entered the intersection with a green light, resulting in a severe collision that killed two children of the Georgiou family and their grandparents.
Their funeral service will take place today at 2 p.m. in the village of Limnatis. The expenses will be covered by the Ministry of Social Welfare.
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