Maltese couple killed in Sicily crash named as Doris and Manuel Buhagiar
Malta Police Union lead tribute to former policeman and his wife
Tributes have started pouring in for the Maltese couple who lost their lives in a car accident in Sicily on Wednesday.
Former police officer PC 574 Manuel Buhagiar, 73, and his wife Doris, 69, from Żebbuġ died on impact when their Malta-registered Toyota Yaris was involved in a head on collision with a truck on the Catania - Ragusa state road near the exit to Lentini.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday evening, the Malta Police Union extended its "heartfelt condolences" to the family.
A relative, Jenny Barbara Buhagiar, expressed her "shock" at the unexpected news.
"Cannot believe it! It was already sad enough when the news came out without any names, but just foudn out who they are and Manuel was my father's cousin. What an unexpected shock tonight," she wrote on Facebook.
In a brief statement, the Foreign Ministry said it was in close contact with the family and assisting them.
Local radio station Radio Una Voce Vicina reported that emergency services from Augusta, the fire brigade and a helicopter ambulance were called on site.
The motorway was closed in both directions after the fatal accident. Photo: Radio Una Voce VicinaThe couple were extracted from the car but medical officers confirmed they had been killed on impact, reports said. The bodies were transferred to the mortuary at Lentini hospital.
The motorway was closed in both directions for several hours during the investigation.