A British tourist was killed and his teenage son critically injured in an ATV crash in Corfu, police said on Tuesday. The fatal accident has renewed concerns over road safety and the widespread use of rental quad bikes on the island.
According to initial reports, the accident occurred when the quad bike veered off course, crossed into the opposite lane and plunged into a ditch. Firefighters rescued the father and son from the wreckage before both were transferred to hospital. The 42-year-old father later died from his injuries, while his 15-year-old son remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Traffic police are investigating the circumstances that led to the crash.
In the aftermath of the accident, the mayor of North Corfu, Georgios Macheimaris, issued a statement describing the incident as another tragedy linked to what he called the “uncontrolled circulation of dangerous vehicles” on the island’s roads.
The mayor expressed condolences to the victim’s family. He also warned that Corfu’s road network, which he described in the statement as narrow, difficult and often unsuitable, has become increasingly dangerous, particularly with the return of large numbers of ATVs and the growing use of electric scooters.
The mayor’s statement also highlighted concerns over minors riding electric scooters without helmets or protective gear, often alongside cars, buses and tourist vehicles on busy roads.“The human life, especially the lives of children, must be the highest priority,” the mayor said, calling for stricter regulations, increased inspections, better policing and clearer rules governing the use of ATVs and electric scooters.
