Two weeks have passed since the Larnaca Avenue fatal crash in Aglantzia and the sudden loss of 20-year-old Kyriakos Antoniou. Residents of the area remain deeply unsettled, as the 24-year-old driver of the vehicle is still at large.
Speaking to SigmaLive, Larnaca Avenue resident Phanos Kouroufexis outlined the intentions of locals living near the scene, should the ongoing investigation fail to produce results.
He began by stating: “The boy who caused the accident is known to the entire neighbourhood. We know he has been involved in other road accidents, he has caused other incidents. This young man should not even have a driving licence. It’s impossible that everyone can see the obvious except the authorities.”
No accusation of cover-up, but vigilance urged
When asked if he believed there was any intent by the authorities to cover up the case, Mr Kouroufexis clarified: “We are not suggesting there is any intention of a cover-up. But the competent authorities involved in this investigation must be extremely vigilant, because we will not tolerate another case like Thanasis Nikolaou. We know that an exact reconstruction of the accident will take place, and that the engine of the vehicle driven by the perpetrator was sent to Germany for specialised analysis to determine the speed of the car on the night of the crash. We hope the investigations succeed, and we welcome them.
“But we must make our position clear so that we do not live through similar situations again. We live here, we know, we feel, we have the experience of a mother who has been dragged through the courts for 20 years to find justice. We will not allow something like that to happen again — that is what we are saying. Time, in justice, works against her.”
Calls for cameras to curb street racing
Mr Kouroufexis stressed that residents have repeatedly alerted the authorities to the street racing taking place in the area.
“As residents, of course we have spoken about the racing on Larnaca Avenue. Deputy Mayor Andreas Constantinou sent numerous letters. Because of the racing and the noise, you cannot sleep. The constant request has been to install cameras on that road, as has been done on other roads where similar incidents have occurred. Unfortunately, we were not heard.
“We are not asking to have a police officer in every neighbourhood, as they replied to us. We’ve heard many ‘gems’ and excuses. What we are asking for are substantial measures.”
Residents ready for action if justice stalls
Concluding, Mr Kouroufexis stressed: “If time passes and we do not see the investigation and the process being completed, and the case being filed in court, then yes — we as residents of the area are ready to take action through dynamic demonstrations. We are not prepared to witness another mother like Andriana.”
Also read: Fatal crash in Aglantzia: Why is the 24-year-old still not arrested?
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