A man was critically injured yesterday morning when his car crashed into a truck carrying gas cylinders in Luqa.

In a statement, the police said the 24-year-old man from Żurrieq was seriously injured in the collision which took place at around 6 a.m. in Council of Europe Road, Luqa.

The road, which leads to the airport, had to be closed for some time. Members of the Civil Protection Department were called to the scene to release the trapped driver from the wreckage.

The driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital where he was treated for life-threatening injuries.

Duty Magistrate Audrey Demicoli was informed about the case. She appointed a number of court experts to assist her with the magisterial inquiry.

In a seperate incident,two young men escaped with slight injuries when a Land Rover parked in a parking area in Marsascala rolled off the road and plummeted onto the rocks below, police said.

The incident happened on Friday around 11.15 p.m. when the police were informed that a vehicle had crashed onto the rocks, landing on its roof in St Thomas Bay in Marsascala.

A 19-year-old driver and his 21-year-old passenger, both from Żabbar, were inside the vehicle at the time of the incident.

Both men emerged from the vehicle unassisted. The passenger was taken to Mater Dei where he was treated for slight injuries.

Police are investigating.