A Syrian man and an Iraqi woman were seriously injured when their car crashed against a truck-trailer laden with two huge fenders in Garibaldi Street, Luqa yesterday at about 5 a.m.

At the time of the accident, the truck driver, John Spiteri, 45, was manoeuvring the 40-foot trailer in reverse into the yard of Cassar Ship Repair Services Ltd.

The impact occurred as the car, a Honda Accent, was being driven uphill on the lane leading from Marsa to Luqa.

It was still dark and the truck driver was being guided by a watchman to reverse the huge vehicle into the yard. After the impact the whole width of the lane was blocked by the trailer carrying the two huge black fenders.

Sources said the fenders, owned by Island Tendering Co. Ltd, are used at sea to prevent ships from hitting each other when they are berthed alongside. The two fenders were being taken to Cassar Ship Repair Yard for storage.

The Syrian driver, Isa Almimid, aged 28, and the Iraqi woman, Ula Mohammed, 23, are both resident in Malta.

The police said both were seriously injured and on being admitted to Mater Dei Hospital the woman was found to be in a critical condition. Later in the day, the police said her condition was stable.

The truck driver was not injured but appeared to be suffering from shock.

The street was reopened after the badly damaged car was taken to the police garage on a low loader for further investigation.

An onsite inquiry was carried out by court-appointed experts Joe Zammit, Richard Aquilina and Richard Sladden.

The inquiry is being conducted by Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona.

The police are investigating.