A 19-year-old motorcyclist died in hospital last night after his bike collided with a car on Middle Road, Southampton.

The man, from Sandys, became the Island's third official road fatality of the year after the accident at 9.30 p.m. next to the Rising Sun Apartments and Tribe Road No.2.

He was driving his red Honda 150cc bike west along Middle Road, close to Five Star Island, when he overtook a long line of cars and struck the back of a silver-grey Daihatsu Extol travelling in the same direction. Police spokesman Dwayne Caines told The Royal Gazette: "This resulted in the rider falling off his vehicle and hitting a wall.

He was transported to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he subsequently died as a result of his injuries."

Mr. Caines said officers were able to identify the teenager last night but that he would not be named until his next of kin had been informed.

The driver of the Daihatsu was taken to hospital suffering from shock. Police closed Middle Road and diverted traffic to the south shore. Late last night, officers were still at the scene photographing evidence.

Mr. Caines said the crash was being investigated and urged witnesses to contact Police. He said of the stretch of road where the accident happened: "I know it's claimed lives before but I would not say it's a bad stretch of road."

Another teen, 18-year-old Ryan Burgess, become Bermuda's first road fatality of 2006 last month after the motorbike he was riding hit a tree in Devonshire Motorcyclist Alvin Eric Flood, 45, died on March 4 after his bike collided with a truck on North Shore Road.

Witnesses to last night's collision should call Pc Broomes on 234-1010.