British man remanded until May 19 over fatal hit and run

The 25-year-old Briton allegedly involved in the fatal hit and run of a 46-year-old woman in Ayia Napa has been remanded until May 19 and is facing eight charges.

Police on Thursday confirmed to the Cyprus Mail that the suspect appeared at the Famagusta district court on Wednesday and is facing a series of serious charges, ranging from reckless driving leading to a death to driving under the influence of drugs.

The incident occurred on May 5 in which the young man accused of driving the rental buggy hit the Swedish mother of one at a pedestrian crossing on the main artery of Nissi Avenue in the coastal town.

He fled the scene on foot but was tracked down by police a few hours later. An alcotest identified a reading of 44 μg, more than four times over the legal limit of 9μg, and a drugs test returned positive for cannabis.

A police source in Ayia Napa stated that the Briton is facing a charge of driving under the influence of drugs but not for alcohol. Amongst the charges are driving without insurance, fleeing the scene of a crash without first attempting to provide aid and not attempting to secure the site of the crash (having left the buggy in the middle of the road).

The Swedish mother was on holiday with her six-year-old daughter whom she left with staff at the hotel play area and was on her way to buy some groceries. Police stated that the girl’s father arrived in Cyprus following the mother’s death, but authorities provided no further details.

Police previously stated that the driver failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing where the woman was attempting to cross. “A young man driving the rental buggy overtook a stopped car, and hit the woman,” they said.

The Swedish woman was taken to Famagusta general hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. Photos showed immense damage to the rental buggy.