Truck driver critically injured in collision

A young truck driver was critically injured in a nasty collision with an oncoming trailer yesterday morning in the 10th serious traffic accident so far this year.

Johann Charles Xerri, 27, of Żabbar, was driving an empty truck along Triq Is-Sejba, Mqabba when he crashed into an unloaded trailer being driven by Alan Depasquale, 34, of Birżebbuġa shortly before 11 a.m.

Eyewitnesses said the red and grey truck suddenly swerved towards the yellow trailer as the vehicles approached each other, narrowly missing the driver's cabin.

It remains unclear what caused the crash but investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a mechanical fault in the truck or the driver suddenly feeling unwell.

Firemen stumbled upon the accident on their way to their station nearby.

Mr Depasquale was found standing outside his stalled trailer and Mr Xerri, who was crying out in pain, was trapped inside the truck's cabin because one of his legs got caught in the mangled metal.

He spent more than half-an-hour inside the wreckage as firemen tore through the twisted steel and paramedics treated him as best as they could.

Breathing through an oxygen mask and covered with a white sheet, he was eventually lifted onto a stretcher and wheeled into an ambulance which rushed him to hospital. There, it was established that Mr Scerri was in a critical condition because of the extensive injuries he had sustained and was placed in intensive care.

It later transpired that his condition was better than initially feared by doctors and his chances of recovery are good, according to sources. Mr Depasquale was also taken to hospital and found to be slightly injured. As a result of the crash, the street was temporarily closed. Firemen scattered absorbent material onto a substantial amount of diesel, which leaked out of the truck, to avoid further accidents.

Police Inspector Carlos Cordina is heading investigations and Magistrate Giovanni Vella has appointed experts to assist him in an inquiry.

The police special assignments group, whose headquarters is nearby, assisted at the scene of the accident.