Police were kept busy over the weekend as four separate traffic accidents between Christmas Eve and the day itself left one man dead and three others seriously injured.

A Christmas Day accident in the early hours of the morning proved fatal for a 35-year-old man from Msida.

The man was driving along Mikiel Anton Vassalli Road, St Julians, towards Paceville when the accident occured. Police, who were summoned to the scene at 3.45 a.m., said that the vehicle hit the centre strip before turning onto its side.

A medical team rushed the man to Mater Dei Hospital, where he succumed to his injuries. Magistrate Antonio Mizzi is holding an inquiry while the police carry on their investigation.

Some hours earlier, at around 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, an 84-year-old woman from Ħamrun was grieviously injured when she was run over by a car while crossing Triq il-Kappillan Mifsud, Ħamrun.

The car, a Kia Mentor, was being driven by a 64-year-old man from the same town. Police are investigating.

There was another Christmas Eve accident in Kirkop, when a Toyota Blizzard heading towards Gudja was found just after the Kirkop tunnel lying on its left side, extensively damaged.

The police, who were contacted at 10.45 p.m., rushed to the scene and found two people in the car. The driver, a 40-year-old man from Marsaxlokk, was seriously injured, while his passenger, a 40-year-old woman from Qormi, was slightly hurt.

A 55-year-old man from Sta Venera was also seriously injured on Christmas Day when he lost control of the Kia Pride he was driving along Mdina Road, Birkirkara. His passenger, a 49-year-old woman from Sta Venera, suffered slight injuries.

Both were taken to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment.