Policeman dies in road accident

A policeman died in the line of duty when he lost control of a police car and crashed into an oncoming truck with trailer transporting bulk cement along the Għargħur bypass, yesterday morning.

The police are not ruling out the possibility that Constable Dennis Sammut, 53, lost consciousness before the crash but their theory can only be confirmed in an autopsy.

PC Sammut, the only occupant of the car, was found with slight cuts and bruises, wearing his seatbelt and surrounded by inflated airbags.

A witness saw PC Sammut cut straight across the bend in the street.

It appeared that he had not tried to brake because no skid marks were found behind the police car in Margaret A. Murray Street.

Skid marks were found behind the trailer, when its driver swerved towards the pavement in a bid to evade the police car.

The trailer ended on the pavement and two other cars were slightly damaged in the accident.

Paramedics treated the driver of the trailer for severe shock.

PC Sammut, who lived with his wife and two children in Birkirkara, joined the police force 30 years ago and spent the last 15 working at the Naxxar police station.

At the time of the crash he was responding to a call.

Colleagues, including a few who were not on duty, gathered on the scene, some crying openly when they saw PC Sammut covered in a white sheet. Commissioner John Rizzo was also present.

Duty Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima is carrying out an inquiry. Those who knew him left comments on timesofmalta.com, expressing their condolences to the family and praising his exemplary attitude.

Former sergeant Joe Borda, who used to work with him when both were stationed at the Birkirkara and Naxxar police stations, said PC Sammut was very friendly and loved by all. He was a hard worker and always wanted to assist others as best he could.