The Bermuda Police Service confirmed that 17-year-old Derick Paynter Jr. of St. George?s died during a traffic accident yesterday.

Friends have erected a large memorial to Derrick near the site of his crash Thursday night and spray painted messages of love and sorrow on the sheet.

Derick was involved in the fatal collision on Mullet Bay Road in St. George?s near the junction with Ferry Reach Road at shortly before 5 p.m.

It appears that his auxiliary cycle was travelling east, overtaking traffic, when he lost control and slid under a truck, which was also travelling east.

He sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to KEMH via ambulance, but subsequently died. He was pronounced dead at 5.30 p.m. by a physician at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital yesterday.

Derick was the Island?s fifth road fatality in 2006 and second teenager to die on Bermuda?s roads this year. The was unable to locate family members of Derick yesterday.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to this fatal road traffic collision to contact P.c. Colin Mill on 299-4265 or the main Police number, 295-0011.