Family and friends of the young woman who became Bermuda?s tenth road fatality of the year yesterday morning have paid tribute to her as a ?beautiful and humble? person.

18-year-old Shellee Smith, from Smith?s Parish, died as a result of her injuries following the crash on South Road at its junction with St. Mark?s Road in that parish at 10.35 a.m.

A six -foot long gouge in the road marks the place where the popular Bermuda College student, who was on a motorcycle, was involved in a collision with a white-coloured taxi, either during or just after a rain shower.

Speaking at Miss Smith?s grandparents? home in Smith?s Parish, her grieving aunt ? who did not wish to be named ? said of the teenager: ?She was well-liked and popular, and very personable, with inner beauty to match.?

The former CedarBridge Academy student was a regular worshipper at St. Philip AME Church, and also loved to bowl. Sherrilyn DeSilva, a youth leader at St Philip, who was close to Miss Smith, said last night: ?She knew me as Aunt Tappy. She was beautiful, humble, and with a sweet spirit. She also had a beautiful smile ? I can see it now. I thank God for her life and the time that we had with her. To know her was to love her.?

Miss Smith?s tragic death is the second fatality on the Island this month, and means that three more people have been killed on the roads this year compared with the whole of 2004.

Police are investigating the incident and believe the taxi was travelling east on South Road and the motorcycle was travelling in the opposite direction.

In a statement the Police said it appeared that as the vehicles approached the junction with St. Mark?s Road the young woman lost control attempting to negotiate a left-hand bend and skidded across the road colliding with the taxi.

There was gusty wind and showers affecting the Island at the time and some of the first people to arrive at the scene of the crash said the road was wet.

Staff from both St. Mark?s Church and the nearby Bright Beginnings Nursery Pre-School ran to offer help.

Miss Smith, of Sommersall Road, was rushed by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later. The taxi driver and passenger were not injured. The scene of the collision was blocked for a time as emergency services dealt with the incident and Police started their investigation. Both vehicles were impounded by the Police and inquiries into this incident are ongoing.

The location of the collision was near to the scene of another fatal collision which occurred in May this year and claimed the life of apprentice electrician Eugene Christopher, 27, who died when his motorbike was involved in a collision with a truck at the junction of Zuill's Park Road and South Road.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to contact P.c. Shantia Furbert on 295-0011.