A heart-broken construction worker has spoken of the tragic road crash which claimed the life of his brother on Sunday night — and insisted the motorcyclist would neither have been drunk nor riding too fast.

"My brother was a good man. Whatever happened, it wasn't through stupid things," Paul Sousa told The Royal Gazette about Emmanuel Sousa yesterday.

Emmanuel, 38, died from head injuries sustained in the accident on North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish, shortly after 10.30 p.m. on Sunday.

He is thought to have swerved into the path of a car travelling east as he pulled into North Shore Road to head west, having visited a friend's house in Bailey's Bay.

The driver of the car, a 23-year-old Hamilton Parish man, was not injured.

Friends and family suspect Emmanuel could have made a fatal mistake because he was used to driving on the right-hand side of the road in the Açores, where he lived for most of his life.

The victim arrived in Bermuda two years ago to work for DeSilva's Construction in St. John's Road, Pembroke, where he worked and lived with his three brothers, two of whom have since returned to the Açores.

Paul, who does not speak English, spoke to this newspaper with the help of company boss John DeSilva, who acted as interpreter.

"He wasn't speeding. We've got that from a witness," said Paul.

"He had swerved into the path of an oncoming vehicle. He was coming out of a driveway onto the main road. I think he just misjudged the turn to be honest.

"He knew how to drive. He had his licence and everything else. He wasn't a speeder."

"We're used to driving on the right-hand side of the road. I don't know.

"In case anyone was wondering if it was alcohol-related, he had two beers. One at his friend's house and one earlier in the day for dinner. He hadn't been drinking excessively."

Paul said he had also been at the friend's house, but had gone home a short while earlier than his brother.

He started to get worried when his brother did not arrive home and then failed to answer his phone. At about 11.30 p.m. Police showed up and took him to the hospital to identify his dead brother.

As Paul broke into tears, Mr. DeSilva told The Royal Gazette: "He's been like this since yesterday morning. He hasn't stopped crying. He's distraught but luckily his buddies don't leave him alone."

At one stage four Sousa brothers — Emmanuel, Paul, John and Carlos — all worked for DeSilva's Construction. Mr. DeSilva says they were known for their hard work and he nicknamed them 'The Four Musketeers'.

Emmanuel, a bachelor with no children, was very close to his family and yesterday John and Carlos, now back in the Açores, were contemplating how to break the news to their sick mother.

"I spoke to John yesterday. They are all wiped out," said Mr. DeSilva. "They are all devastated and don't know what to do."

Describing his brother, Paul said: "He was the type of guy who got along with everyone.

"I don't know of anyone who was against him. He was a good spirit, he wasn't negative, he was a positive type of guy."

Mr. DeSilva added: "He was the type of guy who always looked out for his friends: a ride to work or something to eat for lunch. He was always there for them.

"He was one of those guys. He would put you in a good mood if you were in a bad one."

Fellow Portuguese friend and co-worker David Bolarinho also paid tribute, saying: "Back home I knew him vaguely, but since coming to Bermuda I have become one of his best friends.

"We were always together, like brothers ourselves."

Emmanuel's body will be flown home for a burial next week. He is the fourth person killed on Bermuda's roads in 2009.

His death came just six days after Moses Jacobs, 38, was killed in an accident on Middle Road, Southampton.

Witnesses are urged to call PC Dellworth Smith on 295-0011.