Evia: 43-year-old killed in road accident at Marmari

A fatal road accident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday 19 August in the area of Marmari, in the Municipality of Karystos in southern Evia. According to the news outlet Newsbomb, at around 00:30 two passenger vehicles collided violently under circumstances that have not so far been clarified. One of the two drivers, aged 43, was fatally injured. He was taken by an EKAB ambulance to Karystos Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. The competent authorities are investigating the exact causes of the accident, while no details have been made public about the condition of the second driver involved.

The investigation of a fatal road accident involves marking and measuring the braking marks, examining the vehicles, taking statements from any eyewitnesses and toxicology tests on those involved. The procedure is completed with the Traffic Police’s on-site inspection report, which is forwarded to the competent prosecutor, while if culpability emerges, criminal proceedings are brought for manslaughter by negligence. Until the investigation is completed, no responsibility is attributed to anyone. The names of those involved are not made public, as they are private individuals. At the same time, a technical inspection of the vehicles is being carried out to establish whether there was a fault in the braking system or the tyres that could have contributed to the collision.

Marmari is a seaside settlement in southern Evia that is connected by ferry to Rafina and receives a large number of visitors during the summer months. Traffic on the area’s road network multiplies in August, while the roads connecting the settlements are largely provincial, narrow and with limited lighting. Night-time accidents on such routes are often linked to reduced visibility and high speed, factors that worsen the consequences of any collision. Karystos Hospital covers southern Evia and critically ill cases are usually transferred to Chalkida or Athens, with the journey exceeding one hour.

Fatal road accidents in the Greek provinces rise steadily during August, when the movement of holidaymakers combines with tourist traffic. Similar incidents have been recorded recently in many areas, such as in Corinthia with a four-vehicle pile-up and in Chalkidiki with the fatal injury of a 29-year-old. It has not been announced whether there are features at the accident site that have been linked to previous accidents, nor whether a case file has been opened. The Evia Traffic Police is continuing checks on the island’s road network. The authorities recall that excessive speed and driving under the influence of alcohol remain the two main causes of fatal road accidents in Greece. The family of the 43-year-old has made no statements.