Briton detained for questioning

DENPASAR, Bali: A 43-year-old British national is in police custody for his alleged involvement in a traffic accident on Saturday that left an eight-year-old local girl dead.

"We are detaining him pending a further investigation to determine the nature of the accident," Denpasar Traffic Police Sr. Comr. R Agus Sugianto said on Sunday.

The accident took place at 11:30 p.m. on Jalan Uluwatu in the Pecatu area, some 30 kilometers south of here. Most of the street was quiet at the time.

Stephen John Boister, who was driving a rented Tiger 200cc motorcycle, reportedly hit Ayu Cintya while she was crossing the street.

Cintya was killed instantly, while Boister sustained several minor injuries.

Several eyewitnesses said Boister was driving the motorcycle in a reckless manner, a claim which was later backed up by an investigating officer.

"The motorbike, coming from the east, was going at such a high speed that when it hit Cintya, her body was dragged some 22 meters before stopping," an eyewitness stated. (55)