A family is mourning the loss of its son, brother and father after 31-year-old Corey Smith of Number One Tribe Road, Pembroke, became Bermuda's first road fatality of the year on Saturday morning.

It is understood that the father of three was riding a red Honda Scoopy motorcycle on Verdmont Road in Smith's Parish at approximately 6.50 a.m. when it was in collision with a grey Daewoo saloon driven by a 40-year-old Hamilton Parish man.

Mr. Smith appeared to be travelling in a northerly direction at the time.

According to Police reports, a doctor as well as emergency medical staff were in attendance, but Mr. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr. Smith's family declined to comment on his death last night but members of his Devonshire Cougars 'family' told how they were struggling to cope with the loss of their soccer team's defender.

Mr.Smith, who played both soccer and cricket with Devonshire Rec, was more recognised for his exploits in the former with coach Albie Smith yesterday revealing that he was one of many looking forward to the start of the new season with enthusiasm and great anticipation.

"He trained with us as recently as last Thursday, so you can imagine just how hard this is for all of us to digest right now, we are obviously lost for words,'' said the coach.

"Corey was a nice guy, a very dedicated player whose game was always improving because he was one of those players who listened. That is why I think he excelled.''

A long-time Cougars' player Mr.Smith was a key member of the Premier Division team's defence.

He normally held down the right full-back position, but could often be seen filling in as the marktion, but could often be seen filling in as the marking centre-back or during periods of injuries to other playplaying another utility role when asked to do so by the coaching staffers.

He was very much an integral part of Cougars' plans for the coming season and was expected to be a starter like he has been in the past several seasons.

"He was one of those competitive players that every coach loves to have in his side, he could be placed anywhere in the defence and do a good job," said Albie Smith. "It's such an adjustment for us. All I can do now is to try to recover from the shocking news and offer my condolences to the immediate family and many of his other loved ones."

Charles Clarke, former sports chairman at Devonshire Rec, got to know the deceased while he played both soccer and cricket and noted how serious he was when it came to performing competitively on the field of play.

Like many others, Clarke was more familiar with his role as a soccer player although he was a current member of the club's cricket team and as recent as August 24 topped scored for them by hammering 71 in a victory over Social Club.

"Whether it was soccer or cricket he was a hard-working, very competitive player who worked relentlessly on improving his game' said Mr.Clarke. "He was a long-serving player with Cougars who left us for one season to join Wolves before returning where he has settled down well.

"He was no doubt one of the stalwarts in the club, indeed one of the players you can always depend on to play whatever role the coach asked of him. Devonshire Cougars will miss him in soccer, the cricket team will miss him and the two sports will miss his competitive nature.''

Mr. Smith's death was the first on Bermuda's roads this year, a Police spokesman told The Royal Gazette.

Police are asking anyone who was on Verdmont Road on Saturday morning or who may have witnessed the accident or seen either vehicle travelling on Verdmont Road that morning are asked to contact P.c Colin Paynter at 295-0011.