woman.

Twenty-one year Ingrid Welch was riding her bike along Richmond Road early Thursday morning when she was involved in a head-on collision with a visitor on a rental cycle.

The man, who was visiting Bermuda as part of a Scottish rugby team, and Miss Welch were thrown clear, but the impact caused the bikes to catch fire.

The rugby player sustained a fractured nose, which required 12 stitches. Miss Welch required stitches to her left eye and right hand, received swelling and bruising to her eye and damaged her shoulder.

"I'm scarred for life,'' said Miss Welch, who was a contestant in this year's Miss Bermuda Islands pageant.

Her bike was virtually destroyed.

She told The Royal Gazette that the crash was not the first time she had encountered the rugby player that evening.

The whole Scottish rugby team had been in Robin Hood that night, said Miss Welch. "I saw them drinking and fooling around.'' Ironically, when the accident occurred, Miss Welch was returning to the pub to pick up a friend who had been drinking. She was the designated driver that evening.

On her way, she watched in astonishment as members of the team sped along Burnaby Street and on to Reid Street, narrowly avoiding hitting her.

Two minutes later, on Richmond Road, Miss Welch said she encountered another rowdy group of rugby players. That was when the accident occurred.

"I am disgusted at the behaviour of these visitors, who should be proud to be coming to Bermuda to represent Scotland,'' she said.

"They were reckless and stupid, shouting to each other, and weaving out of control all over the road,'' she added. "We could have been both killed.'' As a result of the accident, Miss Welch has had to put her school plans on hold.

She was looking forward to beginning her first year at Goldsmith's College, University of London to study drama. Now her departure has been delayed.

"I have had to rearrange all my plans for departure and arrange further accommodation in order to complete medical treatment for my injuries,'' she said.

Already struggling to pay for school, this will mean further expense for Miss Welch. She was relying on awards from the Bermuda Government and Tankard Foundation to help pay for college, but she said they were not enough.

In a letter to the editor she sent out a desperate plea for more money.

"I only need 5,000 pounds more, but I have no-one to turn to,'' she said.

"If there is any way in the future I can help you in return once I have returned here to live and work, I will do so,'' she promised.

Inquiries into the accident are continuing, said a Police spokesperson.

SCARRED! -- Miss Ingrid Welch displays the injuries she sustained in an accident with a visitor early Thursday morning.