Jet pre-clearance project delayed

Private jet passengers hoping to pre-clear US customs before heading to the States will have to wait until a terminal is adapted before enjoying smoother transition.

Earlier this week Premier Dr. Ewart Brown announced a letter of intent, signed with the US last June, will become a formal agreement on Thursday — offering a service only Ireland, Aruba and the Bahamas can match.

It will eventually mean that private jets heading for smaller airports won't have to detour to larger hubs for long waits to complete customs and immigration formalities.

However not mentioned at the press conference was the fact that other parts of the deal are not in place.

Bermuda must adapt a place for US Customs and Border Protection staff to work from while the US will have to allocate staff to do the work.

Airport Manager Aaron Adderley could not say when the new service would begin running but he was confident one of the three existing private jet terminals could easily be adapted for the purpose.

He added: "There's one that pretty much meets the requirements and there shouldn't be a large investment required."

And he said some costs would likely be picked up by the private terminal operator.

Motorist injured after car collides with tree

A Warwick woman suffered minor injuries when her car struck a tree.

Around 7.50 p.m. on Thursday, Police attended an accident on South Road, in Paget, near the junction with Fritholme Gardens.

Police said a car was travelling west on South Road when the driver, a 54-year-old woman, lost control and collided with a tree.

The woman sustained a minor scratch to her face as a result. The car received moderate front end damage.

Cyclist hits utility pole

A Pembroke man suffered head injuries after he hit a utility pole on his motorcycle.

Around 7.25 p.m. on Thursday, Police attended the accident at the junction of St. John's Road and Euclid Avenue, in Pembroke.

A Police spokesperson said a motorcycle was travelling south on St. John's Road when the rider, a 38-year-old man, lost control at the junction and collided with a utility pole.

He sustained a laceration to his head as well as abrasions to his hands and feet. He was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment and was later arrested on suspicion of impaired driving.