Two Children Seriously Injured in Msida Biker-Biker Crash

It was a scene of chaos and concern on Tuesday afternoon as emergency services rushed to the aid of two children seriously injured in a collision between a motorbike and a bicycle in Msida. The incident, which occurred around 4 pm on Triq San Gorg, left the community shaken and highlighting once again the need for road safety awareness, especially among our youth.

According to eyewitnesses, a 12-year-old boy was riding his bicycle along Triq San Gorg when he suddenly collided with a motorbike being ridden by a 14-year-old girl. Both children were thrown off their respective vehicles, landing hard on the pavement. The force of the impact left the bicycle and motorbike damaged, with parts scattered across the road.

Passersby quickly sprang into action, rushing to the aid of the injured children. “It was terrifying,” said one witness, who wished to remain anonymous. “I saw the boy flying off his bike and then the girl sliding across the road. It happened so fast.”

Paramedics from the Malta Civil Protection Department arrived shortly after, stabilizing the children before transporting them to Mater Dei Hospital. Their conditions were described as ‘serious but stable’.

News of the incident spread quickly through Msida, with residents expressing their concern and shock. Many took to social media to call for increased road safety awareness, particularly among young riders.

“This is a wake-up call for us all,” said Maria Calleja, a long-time Msida resident. “Our children need to understand the rules of the road and the importance of safety gear. We, as parents, also need to lead by example.”

Msida Mayor Gino Haneen echoed these sentiments, stating, “We need to do more to educate our youth about road safety. This incident could have been much worse. Our thoughts are with the children and their families.”

This incident is just the latest in a string of road accidents involving young riders in Malta. According to the Malta Police, there were 146 road accidents involving children under 16 in 2020, resulting in 21 serious injuries and one fatality.

In response to these figures, the Malta Road Safety Council has been campaigning for increased road safety education in schools and stricter enforcement of traffic laws. They also advocate for the mandatory use of safety gear, including helmets and reflective clothing, for all cyclists and motorbike riders.

As the community continues to rally around the injured children, there’s a growing call for action to prevent such incidents in the future. Parents are urged to talk to their children about road safety, while local councils and the Malta Road Safety Council are encouraged to step up their education campaigns.

“We can’t afford to wait for another tragedy to strike,” said Calleja. “Let’s come together as a community and make our roads safer for our children.”