Maltese couple killed in Sicily head-on collision with truck

An elderly Maltese couple were killed in a car accident on a Sicily motorway on Wednesday. 

Sources confirmed the husband, aged 73, and his 69-year old wife were driving a Toyota Yaris with a Maltese registration number plate on the Catania – Ragusa motorway close to Lentini when they were involved in a head-on collision with a truck at 3pm.

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 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 collision occurred on highway 194 in the Lentini area, Italian media reported.

The couple's family have been informed.

In a brief statement, the Foreign Ministry said it is in close contact with the family through its Consular Services and the Embassy of Malta in Rome, offering the relatives "all necessary support during this difficult time."

The accident happened at around 3pm on Wednesday. Photo: Radio Una Voce Vicina

The motorway was closed in both directions for several hours during the investigation.

Both vehicles were taken away as part of the investigations at the request of authorities in Siracusa. 

A helicopter ambulance was deployed on the site of the accident. Photo: Radio Una Voce Vicina

More to follow.