TWO KILLED BY ‘DRUNK DRIVER’
GRIEVING friends and family of a British mother of two and a young Turkish Cypriot father mown down by an alleged drink-driver in the early hours of New Year’s Day have begged motorists not to get behind the wheel after they have had alcohol.
The appeals came out in a week that saw three more drivers crash their cars while allegedly under the influence — one said to have a breath-alcohol level too high to measure.
Epsom-born June Knight, 53, was killed instantly in the New Year’s Day tragedy at Alsancak and Aziz Türksever, 34, died en route to hospital.
They had been hit by a lefthand drive BMW driven by Adnan Tokmak at 2.30am while crossing the main Girne-Lapta road near the Merit Royal Hotel and Oris Beach junction.
A police spokesman said Tokmak, 32, had a blood-alcohol level of 212mg per 100ml — well over the legal TRNC limit of 50mg.
Worthing, west Sussex-based Mrs Knight, who worked for Tesco’s, had arrived in North Cyprus just three days earlier for a week’s break.
Her devastated family — husband Graham and daughters Michelle, 32, and Ria, 25 — flew in on Tuesday.
Ria Knight told Cyprus Today: “How could this happen? Take their keys off [drink-drivers]. Friends, family and bar owners have to stop them. Don’t get in the car with them.
“Mum was very road safetyconscious. She always told us to take a taxi or she would pick us up. In the UK bars give free soft drinks to anyone who is a designated non-drinking driver. They just have to show their car keys.”
Alcohol caused chaos elsewhere on the roads when Turkmenistanborn Shamurad Dashkynov, 32, flipped his car in the Kermiya area of Lefkoşa at 9.30pm last Saturday, skidding one metre on the roof. He triggered a warning light on the police breathalyser when he exceeded its 400mg per 100ml
limit, the highest yet recorded.
On Tuesday, Mehmet Güvensoylu recorded 304mg when he collided with an unlicensed driver between Hamitköy and Haspolat.
Erim Tandoğu registered 90mg at 7am on New Year’s Day and suffered fractures after he lost control of his Mercedes on a bend and flew into a two metre-high billboard at the side of the Girne-Lefkoşa road.
Ria Knight said: “A person dies every 30 seconds globally on the roads. We want everyone to donate to the UK road safety charity Brake in [Mrs Knight’s] name.
“My mum loved it here. We both came out with her for [her best friend] Sue’s 60th birthday. At least we have happy memories of our time here to comfort us.”
Mrs Knight had celebrated the New Year at Blake’s Lounge Bar and Bistro with her friend and Alsancak resident Sue Gallafant and mutual friend Mr Türksever.
Mr Türksever’s mother, İlkay, paid tribute to her only son, himself the father of a five-year-old boy, and begged drivers not to drink, adding on social media: “Our hearts are ripped in pieces, we are lost . . . we will never forgive.”
She told Cyprus Today: “I had nine miscarriages and the doctors told me I could die if I had one more, so we adopted Aziz . . . at seven days old from Lefkoşa hospital, which is where he ended his life being washed for his burial.”
Tokmak was remanded in custody for three days, returning to Girne court on Thursday when emotional scenes involving his relatives and the family of Mr Türksever forced the closure of the courtroom before he was remanded to Lefkoşa State Prison for three months.
Ms Gallafant said: “We went to court but were not allowed in.”
She added: “June was my best friend. We had a lovely meal and saw in the New Year, dancing and laughing until around 2.15am. Aziz wanted to go to Oris Beach and June said she would keep him company so we hugged each other goodnight.
“Fifteen minutes later I saw bodies in the road and people, cars and police. I went up to see, not realising it was them. Later that day I left flowers and a card at the site. They were stolen before [Mrs Knight’s] family arrived.”
The former Tulips cancer charity fundraiser added: “June was the life and soul of the party, a loyal and trusted friend and an excellent mum. I have sworn to start a vendetta against drink-driving and mobile phone use [by drivers] in her name.
“June and Aziz have been taken from their children. Something must be done.
“The family has decided to repatriate for a cremation in Worthing but I hope to organise a memorial event for June in North Cyprus to help with the cost of repatriation and to start a campaign against drink-driving here. I hope everyone will support us.”