Karen Smith was up to seventh place when an errant motorist put an end to her Triathlon World Age Group Championship bid in Hawaii.

Bermuda?s top female triathlete had completed her 1.5 kilometre swim on Waikiki Beach in 24 minutes and 54 seconds to put her in 12th place after the first leg on Sunday.

Then it was onto the bike for the multiple Bank of Bermuda Triathlon winner and during the 40 kilometre stage she went past ?at least another five riders or so? ? and then tragedy struck.

With around five kilometres left of the ride she was involved in a collision either directly with a car or because of a car on the course.

Speaking to immediately after being discharged from her Honolulu hospital and with poor reception on her cellphone, Smith tried to explain how it happened.

She said that Police were directing traffic away from the course but one vehicle was in the way and she either collided with it or was squeezed into a collision because of it.

Either way, she was knocked unconscious in the fall and needed seven staples to the back of her head where part of her helmet dug into her and she also received six stitches to a deep gash above her right knee as well as suffering a slight concussion.

?I am in a lot of pain,? said a groggy-sounding Smith.

?I think a lot of it is because of the swelling. To be honest, I am not entirely sure what happened because I blacked out in the collision.

?It?s such a shame because I was doing pretty well. I was very happy with my swim and then on the bike I went past at least another five riders or so ? I think I was probably up to about seventh when it happened.

?It?s a terrible way for me to end the event but that?s one of the things that can happen in triathlon. I?m pretty sore now and I expect I will be for a few days.

?But I?ve heard the other guys did pretty well, so well done to all of them.?

The 38-year-old Smith is no stranger to injury. She was left with a seriously bruised arm and a visit to the hospital after a multiple bike crash in a Southside road race in May, 2002 and she also pulled out of May 24 this year when in third place among the women after becoming severely dehydrated.