The Limassol District Court has acquitted a 41-year-old driver in the 2019 death of school inspector Petros Petrou, 62.
Petrou died on October 1 of that year after being struck by the defendant’s vehicle while crossing April 1 Street in Limassol’s Agia Fyla area.
The Court’s decision acknowledged several contributing factors to the accident. Inadequate street lighting, an issue previously raised by residents, was highlighted. Additionally, the victim was wearing dark clothing when crossing the road diagonally.
Judge Kyriakos Georgiou ruled the accident unavoidable. The Court found the defendant was driving within the speed limit and designated lane, with “nothing in his driving behaviour” indicating recklessness.
Expert testimony and calculations played a key role in the acquittal. The Court determined the driver only had 2 seconds to react upon noticing the pedestrian. Even with immediate braking, the collision was deemed unavoidable due to the stopping distance of the vehicle.
The Court decision noted improvements made to the road since the accident, including new lighting fixtures and a median.
While the official verdict acquits the driver, the family of the deceased may choose to appeal the decision.pedestrian accident. acquittal, contributing factors, road improvements
