Malta – In a tragic series of incidents on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, three individuals lost their lives in separate road accidents across Malta. Cristi Alejandra Robles Valderrama, a 33-year-old originally from Bogotá, Colombia, was identified as a victim in a fatal motorcycle crash.
Robles, a resident of Mtarfa, was a passenger on a motorcycle involved in a high-speed collision with an electricity pole in Rabat late Tuesday evening. Reports suggest that the motorcycle’s driver, also Colombian, was in critical condition following the crash. Witnesses noted that the pair had been seen drinking alcohol prior to the incident.
The day also saw the loss of Carmen Buttigieg, a 77-year-old from Żebbuġ, who was struck by a van in Qormi, and Balu Ganesh Balakrisha, a 40-year-old from India, who died in a head-on collision in Żebbuġ.
The tragic events have led to a call for increased road safety measures. Dr. Michael Spiteri, who attended to the accident in Rabat, urged the public to prioritize safety and be more cautious on the roads.
On Facebook, tributes and condolences poured in for Robles. Shany Jason La Madrid expressed, “REST IN PEACE Cristi Robles. I’m sorry for your loss, gone too soon from a motorcycle accident.” Blanche Vassallo Depasquale commented, “What a tragic loss of a young life!!! May she rest in peace.” Marika Vassallo added, “Such sad news. Fly high and rest in peace. God console her family and relatives.”
The series of accidents highlights the urgent need for road safety reforms to prevent future tragedies.