Man killed in Għajnsielem traffic accident identified as Joey Cutajar
Cutajar, from Nadur, was a soldier
Updated 10.20am
The motorcyclist from Nadur who was killed in a traffic accident in Għajnsielem on Thursday evening has been identified as Joey Cutajar.
Cutajar was an Armed Forces of Malta soldier.
Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri paid tribute to the 44-year-old man in a Facebook post, noting that Cutajar had recently spoken to him to express gratitude over an issue that had impacted some residents.
The two were meant to meet in the coming days but "destiny wanted otherwise".
Camilleri described Cutajar as "a man of respect".
The Police Officers Union also paid tribute on social media, noting he used to form part of the Armed Forces of Malta.
Former soldier pays tribute to ‘Joey with the Y’
Godwin Schembri, a former soldier who served with Cutajar in the AFM’s anti-riot squad, described Cutajar, who was known as ‘Joey with the Y’, as having an amazing character.
“I knew him as a kind-hearted joker who believed in teamwork. He would always bring a smile to people’s faces with his strong Gozitan accent.”
Schembri recalled a training exercise in northern Italy that the two had been part of in the winter of 2007.
“It was -20°C outside and was snowing heavily. All the locals were inside drinking coffee and mulled wine, but we were outside throwing snowballs at each other.”
As a sign of respect, the Qala local council announced it had cancelled Friday's carnival activities.
Cutajar's was the first fatal road accident this year.
A police spokesperson said the accident happened at around 6.45pm on Triq Borg Għarib, when a car was involved in a collision with a SuperSoco motorbike.
The car - a VW Polo - was being driven by a 41-year-old man from Qala.