Court sources yesterday told The Malta Independent that the hospital medical officers refused to state that the woman driver was in a critical condition until 10.30am. The sources claimed that first a sergeant, then one inspector, then another, went up to St Luke’s to get this statement from the medical team but they were all told to wait while the medical team battled to save the driver. Once it was officialy confirmed that the woman was in a critical condition, things moved swiftly, according to the well-known and time-honoured procedure. The court was informed and immediately appointed experts who rushed to the scene of the accident. This could not be done until the statement that the driver was in a critical condition had been issued.

The court experts, who were on the site of the accident at 11.30am, took until 12.15pm to complete their work, after which the Regional Road could be

re-opened to traffic.