The US Naval Air Station has slammed its gates on the public after an accident on the base on Wednesday.

A Bermudian resident who was on the base to patronise the McDonald's Restaurant collided with the wife of a man assigned to the base, Ensign Marie McGahan said yesterday.

"The incident which resulted in an injury occurred as the result of a violation of the no passing of buses regulation,'' she said.

As a result, "the base's policy which allowed guests onto the base has been temporarily suspended until an investigation has been conducted.'' The woman, who has since been released from hospital, had just stepped off the base shuttle bus.

On Sundays and Wednesdays, Bermuda residents have been able to visit the base to patronise the McDonald's -- the only fast-food US chain hamburger outlet on the Island.

Hundreds turn out for a twice-weekly Big Mac attack.

But such visits will not be welcome this coming Sunday and Wednesday, and possibly for longer, Ens. McGahan told The Royal Gazette .

Both the base's security and safety departments are conducting investigations, she said. It would depend on when they finish their probes, and what they recommend.

The man who was driving the vehicle was issued a ticket and a report was sent to Bermuda Police, Ens. McGahan said.

A Police spokesman said yesterday the force has no jurisdiction on the base and he had no knowledge of the incident.

The US Naval Air Station has strict safety regulations. In addition to no passing of buses, seatbelt use is mandatory, and no passing of moving vehicles is allowed.