A 16-year-old died in an accident on Sunday afternoon in Argaka, Paphos, when he lost control of his motorcycle, hit the pavement and crashed into an electricity pylon.

Paphos deputy police director Michalis Nicholaou said the accident happened at around 3.25pm when the teenager – Yiorgos Hadjioannou from Ayia Marina – crashed his offroad racing motorcycle on Archbishop Makarios III Avenue in Argaka, in the direction of Grivas Digenis Avenue.

Hadjioannou was seriously injured and taken by ambulance to Polis Chrysochous hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Speaking on state radio on Monday, police spokesman Vyron Vyronos said the police were investigating why the teenager was riding a racing motorcycle on a public road and whether he had just left the motocross course in nearby Makounta.

Vyronos explained that racing motorcycles are transported to and from courses, and are not suitable for tarmac.

He added that the police were also investigating who the motorcycle belonged to.

The police found a helmet at the scene of the accident and are investigating whether the teenager was wearing it at the time of the crash.

Further investigations into the circumstances of the accident are ongoing.