A 20-year-old woman died in the early hours of New Year’s Day on the Athienou-Aradippou road in the Larnaca district.

According to police, Gabriella Savva from Oroklini was a passenger in a car driven by a 24-year-old who lost control of the vehicle swerved into a ditch and then back on to the road where it hit an oncoming car.

Both were thrown from the vehicle. They were taken by ambulance to Larnaca hospital where the young woman’s death was confirmed.

The driver was kept in for treatment. His condition is said to be serious but not life-threatening.

According to police, a woman presented herself at the scene as the driver of the other vehicle. However witnesses said the real driver was a 47-year-old man.

The woman who claimed she was the driver had arrived in another car shortly after the accident and the 47-year-old drove off in that leaving her a the scene with the damaged vehicle.

Police are investigating.