Young girl dies in Paphos car accident

A young girl who was struck by a car at a pedestrian crossing in Paphos died in hospital after doctors were unable to save her life.

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According to local media, 10-year-old Nelina Fakliska was fatally injured when she was struck by an oncoming vehicle while she was trying to cross the street. Police said the accident took place on Friday afternoon, around 2:15pm, on Tassos Papadopoulos Avenue.

The girl was rushed to the Emergency Room at nearby Paphos General Hospital where doctors pronounced her dead. Additional reports said medics had been trying to revive the child but to no avail.

Nelina had walked with her grandfather to a pedestrian crossing and he reportedly started to leave the area expecting his granddaughter would be safe and have no trouble getting to her afternoon lesson, according to local media.

But under circumstances still pending investigation, a car driven by a 69-year-old woman struck Nelina and fatally wounded her. The driver was also taken to hospital following the incident.

The crossing was equipped with traffic lights but no further information was immediately available.

Education Minister Costas Hambiaouris has offered his condolences to the grieving family.

Nelina, described as a Bulgarian girl born in Cyprus, was attending a local school in town. She leaves behind an 8-year-old sister.