Updated | Police officer injured after Gozo crash, second incident in 12 hours

A 57-year-old police officer was this morning critically injured after being involved in a collision with a car in Ghajnsielem.

The incident is the second in less than 12 hours after Anthony Dimech – a 26-year-old policeman from Mgarr – was seriously injured in an accident in Tal-Barrani road on Saturday evening.

The police said the incident occurred at 8am in Triq l-Imgarr, when a Yamaha motorcycle driven by Joseph Tonna – a 57-year-old policeman from Birkirkara – crashed into a Ford Fiesta being driven by an 18-year-old man from Xaghra.

Police said the incident occurred while the motorcycle and the Ford Fiesta were being driven in the same direction. However, eyewitnesses claimed that the motorcyclist crashed into the car after the young driver overtook a vehicle on the opposite side of the road.

Eyewitnesses also explained that the motorcyclist tried to avoid the oncoming car, but his attempts were futile. The police officer was hospitalised and conveyed to Gozo General Hospital where he was initially certified as being in a life threatening condition.

He is now in a stable condition. The police officer’s 25-year-old son, who was riding pillion, was slightly injured.

Police investigations are ongoing while an inquiry is being held.