A 51-year-old man became the Island?s seventh road fatality this year yesterday when his motorcycle was involved in a collision with a car on North Shore Road, Devonshire.

The name of the victim, from Smith?s Parish, had not been released by Police last night amid efforts to notify his next of kin.

The incident occurred at around 3.15 p.m. at the junction with Foothills Road. A Police spokesman said: ?It appears that the car was making a right turn out of Foothills Road and the motorcycle was travelling west on North Shore Road when the vehicles collided.

?The rider of the motorcycle was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in an unresponsive state and died a short time later.?

The incident happened not far from the last fatal accident on July 6, which claimed the life of former St. George?s Cup Match cricketer Travis Smith. Mr. Smith?s motorcycle was in collision with a car at the entrance of Terceira?s gas station on North Shore Road, Devonshire.

On July 10, a serious accident on the same stretch of road ? this time near Grace Lane to the west of the Barker?s Hill roundabout ? saw a 47-year-old motorcyclist and his teenage passenger rushed to hospital.

The number of accidents on the Island?s roads has been the subject of numerous safety appeals by politicians and Police alike. Speaking after the July 10 accident, Inspector Mark Botelho of Bermuda Police issued a plea to motorists to slow down, saying: ?Speed is a growing problem and everyone needs to be concerned.?

Police have appealed for witnesses to yesterday?s fatal collision to contact the Traffic Unit on 299-4265 or the main Police number, 295-0011.

? Police said a Southampton motorcycle rider was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after he hit another bike on Mangrove Bay Road in Sandys on Monday night.

It appears that a Yamaha motorcycle was travelling east on Mangrove Bay Road and a Peugeot motorcycle was travelling in the opposite direction when they collided near the junction with Mangrove Lane.

The rider of the Yamaha, a 25-year-old Southampton man, and the rider of the Peugeot, a 37-year-old Sandys man, sustained facial injuries.

The Southampton man declined medical attention for his injuries and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of impaired driving, taken to Hamilton Police Station and detained.

The Sandys man was treated at KEMH for his injuries and released.