Promising sprinter Kyle Virgil remained in the Intensive Care Unit of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital last night after a bike accident.

Seventeen-year-old Kyle was involved in a collision with a car on Middle Road in Warwick near the junction of Morgan Road at 9.55 p.m. Sunday.

The CedarBridge Academy student is a member of the Flyers Track Club. This summer he recorded his personal best in the 200 metres, 22.42 seconds, at the IAAF World Championships in Italy.

Yesterday, Donna Watson, president of the Bermuda Track and Field Association, said doctors were optimistic.

"I spoke to his father Tuesday morning and he says that the doctors are hopeful that he will be OK," she said. "I am hoping that he is going to be fine, but I am sure he will have a very long recovery and not sure if he will be running any time soon. My heart goes out to them and I personally am very saddened by this news."

As well as competing in the World Youth Championships Kyle has also represented Bermuda in the Carifta Games.

After competing in that event Jamaican track and field coach Brandon Hayden of Munroe College said Kyle was one of a handful of Bermudian athletes he would be interested in recruiting to the university.

A Police spokesman said of the accident: "It appears that both the car and the auxiliary cycle were travelling east on Middle Road, with the car in front of the auxiliary cycle. The vehicles collided as the car attempted to turn into Lindo's Family Foods.

"The rider of the auxiliary cycle, a 17-year-old Southampton man, sustained a serious injury and was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital via ambulance.

"The driver of the car, a 40-year-old Sandys parish man, was not injured. The auxiliary cycle received front- end damage while the car received damage to its right side. Inquiries into this incident are underway. Police are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to contact PC Lesa Stovell on 295-0011."