16-year-old killed on racing motorcycle in Paphos area

A sixteen-year-old teenager was killed on Sunday afternoon in Argaka in the Paphos district. He lost control of a racing motorcycle, hit the pavement and crashed into a power pole, Cyprus police said.

According to Paphos Deputy Police Chief Michalis Nicolaou, the accident occurred at around 15:25 on Archbishop Makarios III Avenue, heading towards Grivas Digenis Avenue. The victim was Giorgos Hadjioannou from Agia Marina Chrysochous. He was taken to Polis Chrysochous Hospital with serious injuries, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Police spokesman Byron Vironos said on state radio on Monday that investigators were trying to determine why the teenager was riding a racing motorcycle on a public road and whether he had been returning from a motocross track in nearby Makounta. Such motorcycles are transported to and from the track; they are not intended for use on asphalt.

Police are also determining who owned the motorcycle. A helmet was found at the scene of the accident, and investigators are checking whether the teenager was wearing it at the time of the collision. The investigation into the circumstances of the incident is continuing.