Waste bins thrown at cars from top of Santa Venera tunnels

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-12-12/news/waste-bins-thrown-at-cars-from-top-of-santa-venera-tunnels-3446931456/

By Neil Camilleri, December 12, 2013

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A number of large plastic waste bins, as well as refuse bags, were thrown on top of passing cars as they entered the Santa Venera tunnels on Tuesday night.

An eyewitness told this paper that the incident happened at around 1.15am. “The entrance to the tunnel in the direction of Marsa was closed off and around four plastic bins and a number of garbage bags were strewn around the road. Cars couldn’t go through.”

The eyewitness said that he was informed by another driver who had managed to stop just in time that the plastic bins were being thrown down from the road on top of the tunnel. The driver said that the car that was being driven in front of him was hit by one of the bins, however it did not stop. “The incident could have had fatal consequences,” the eyewitness said.

A man who was a passenger in the first car climbed up the flight of stairs on the side of the tunnel to make sure that those responsible had left the area. He signaled that the coast was clear and a number of waiting cars could finally drive through the tunnel.

This paper yesterday contacted the Santa Venera and Hamrun Police Stations as well as the Santa Venera Local council but was informed that no reports had been made.

Over the past number of years the UK has experienced an increase in similar incidents, and a number of people have been seriously injured.

A number of people have been killed worldwide in similar incidents over the years, and many others injured. In 2004 a 20-year-old UK man was jailed for six years after being found guilty of causing the death of a lorry driver. The man had thrown a brick from a foot bridge. Around that time, Surrey Police were dealing with around 30 cases a month. The number of incidents has since decreased, but a few were reported this year.

A number of cases had also been reported in Malta over the past few years with objects having been thrown at cars from the December 13 Street bridge in Marsa. Fortunately no one has been seriously injured. The footbridge that crossed over Aldo Moro Road in Marsa has metal netting on each side – presumably to prevent missile throwing – however such measures seem to be lacking in areas overlooking busy roads, such as the area above the Santa Venera tunnels.