Police investigating the taxi crash which left a 71-year-old woman clinging onto life have arrested the cab driver on suspicion of drunk driving.

And traffic officers launched their first appeal for information last night, after releasing the driver on Police bail.

The arrested man, a 42-year-old from Pembroke, was picked up immediately after his cab ploughed into a lamppost at 5.46 a.m. on Monday.

Sybil Aileen Belboda -- once honoured by the Queen for her community work -- is still unconscious and in intensive care, after the crash on Middle Road, Warwick.

And it emerged last night that she and her husband Roland were on their way back from the hospital, where Mr. Belboda received treatment for flu and a nose-bleed, when their taxi crashed near the junction with Keith Hall Road.

The crash scene is just half-a-mile from the Belbodas' home on Khyber Pass.

Their six children and numerous grandchildren were keeping a vigil and praying for her recovery last night.

But a hospital spokeswoman said Mrs. Belboda was still in critical condition as she fought for her life in ICU.

There have been 17 deaths on Bermuda's roads already this year and Mrs.

Belboda's recovery prospects have been described as "very grave''.

A Police spokesman said last night: "We would like to speak to a white male who was dropped off in a white Mitsubishi taxi at the Emergency Department of the hospital between 3.20 and 3.30 on Monday morning.

"Anyone who can help should call P.c. Jerome Simons on 295-0011.'' Mrs. Belboda, who has suffered brain swelling, has not regained consciousness since the accident.

Her grand-daughter Tasa Belboda-Showers last night described her as a "beautiful woman'' who everybody was praying for.

She added: "The one saving grace for us is that she was asleep in the front passenger seat at the time of the accident.

"It means she wouldn't have known about the crash.'' She said doctors had given her grandmother only a "50-50'' chance of pulling through.

"She's been bleeding so much,'' she added. "We can only pray for her right now.'' Mrs. Belboda was awarded the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour in the 1997 New Year's Honours List for her tireless work cleaning up the Bulkhead Drive neighbourhood.

She would often be found attacking neighbours' litter, clad in garden gloves and armed with a broom, shovel and trash bags.

Mrs. Belboda-Showers, 27, added: "Everybody's so proud of her. Please tell everyone that she's a wonderful lady.'' She said her grandfather Roland, 75, was "struggling to cope'' after escaping from the crash with minor injuries.

"They have been married for 53 years and they love each other dearly,'' she added. "She's still hanging on and he's fighting for her, too.'' And he welcomed the possibility of a probe into how the case was handled after all the legal avenues have been exhausted -- hinted at by Ms Cox.

Ms Middleton, from Belleville, Ontario, was raped, tortured and stabbed to death in the early hours of July 3, 1996, after a night out with a friend in St. George's.

Months later Kirk Mundy pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to five years in jail.

A later bid to have him re-charged with murder was knocked back all the way to the Island's final Court of Appeal, the Privy Council in London.

Smith walked free from court earlier this month after Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux ruled there was no case to answer due to lack of evidence.

The Middleton case sparked fury in Canada, with a website calling for a boycott of Bermuda until Ms Middleton's killer or killers were identified and convicted.

LOVING COUPLE -- Sybil Belboda, fighting for her life after a car crash on Monday, enjoys a happy moment with husband Roland on their 50th anniversary in October 1995.

GARBAGE COLLECTION TSH GVT Garbage collection Garbage and recyclables normally picked up on Friday will be collected on Saturday.

The Ministry of Works and Engineering yesterday advised householders that the change was due to the upcoming New Year's Day holiday.

As a result of the change, householders must place their garbage and recyclables out for collection no later than 7.30 a.m.

The Tynes Bay public drop-off will open as usual from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.