A 27-year-old man died early Thursday after a traffic collision in central Nicosia, authorities say. The man reportedly entered a car yard yesterday afternoon and tensions escalated before he drove off in a vehicle believed to have been stolen. He crashed into a concrete wall at Solomou Square shortly after.

Initially conscious at the scene, passers-by called an ambulance and the man was rushed to Nicosia General Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries during the early hours. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding both the car theft and the crash. A post-mortem examination is expected to determine the exact cause of death.