Olympic sailor kills pedestrian
A member of Denmark’s Olympic sailing team was charged with manslaughter yesterday after fatally injuring a pedestrian in southern Athens while driving in one of the special traffic lanes reserved for Olympics-related vehicles. Niklas Holm, 23, arrested after the Sunday night accident at Alimos, on coastal Poseidonos Avenue, was to be released yesterday after being formally accused. The sailor also faces charges of infringement of the highway code, reportedly by speeding, as he tested negative for drunkenness. The victim was identified as British national Errol Strachan, who worked for an Athens catering firm. Police said there was no pedestrian crossing at the point he crossed the road. Holm was to have begun competition on Saturday. Since the special lanes reserved for Games-related traffic came into use on August 1, 51 drivers of accredited vehicles have been fined for speeding, and 811 Athenians have been caught driving inside the lanes without authorization.
