The driver of the car involved in the fatal accident in Nadur early on New Year’s Day insisted with the police that he was driving at 50 kilometres per hour when his car's back tyres lost their grip, causing him to lose control and smash into a wall, a court heard this morning.
Magistrate Audrey Demicoli heard Police Sergeant Jason Xerri explain how only one of the other three passengers in the car could explain what happened that evening.
The accident that claimed the life of 22-year-old law student Matthew Meilak happened at about 3.45am on January 1 in Rabat Road, Nadur when the five friends were returning home after attending a private party at a farmhouse in Nadur.
The crash happened at the second bend on the long road that leads to Victoria. There were visible blue marks on the wall as well as on the electricity pole.
The police sergeant was testifying in the first sitting of the compilation of evidence against Terrence Tanti, 22, from San Gwann, who stands accused with the involuntary homicide of his friend and with driving his blue Peugeot 106 under the influence of alcohol.
Mr Tanti is also charged with seriously injuring another friend in the accident, driving negligently, carelessly and in a dangerous manner and with damaging an electricity pole.
Mr Meilak succumbed to severe head injuries, which he sustained when he was thrown out of the car on impact, ending up on the ground about 12 metres from the wrecked vehicle.
Mr Xerri said the person who was sitting on the front passenger seat, Alex Scerri Herrera, told the police the car was being driven normally when, all of a sudden, he felt the car swerve when it was negotiating a bend and crash into a wall and electricity pole.
Another two passengers, Edward Cole and Miguel Camilleri, who was seriously injured in the crash, could not explain what had happened.
Mr Cole was sitting in the middle on the back seat and Mr Camilleri was sitting to his left, behind the passenger seat, and Mr Meilak to his right, sitting behind the driver.
Mr Xerri said the car was badly damaged in the crash and the most visible damage was on the back side of the car on the driver's side, so much so that the back tyre came off with the impact.
He said that when the police arrived on the scene, Mr Scerri Herrera was not seen. The police mounted a search for him and he was found some time later visibly suffering from shock.
The sergeant said that it was not raining at the time of the crash but could not explain whether the road was wet with dew.
He also confirmed that the electricity pole, which was installed in front of the wall, was not protected with padding and neither was there a crash barrier.
Police inspector Bernard Spiteri said that since the police suspected Mr Tanti was driving under the influence of alcohol, the duty magistrate ordered that blood samples be taken.
No results were mentioned as these have to be exhibited by the court experts.
The case continues next month.
Inspectors Spiteri and Frank Tabone prosecuted while lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for Mr Tanti.