When will it end? 2026 road deaths swell to eight overnight
Police have announced three road deaths tied to separate incidents, bringing the total to eight in the first five months of 2026.
Leroy Smith, 43, who was involved in a crash on April 30, was named as the sixth fatality.
The two other road deaths, a 73-year-old motorcyclist and a 30-year-old motorcyclist, were involved in separate collisions that took place on Monday.
A spokesman for the Bermuda Police Service said Mr Smith was the pillion passenger of a motorcycle being driven on Harbour Road in Paget.
The vehicle crashed at about 11.15pm while negotiating a bend near Lower Ferry.
Mr Smith and the rider were thrown from the motorcycle, though the rider was not reported to be seriously injured.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident, and inquiries are continuing.
The spokesman added that police and other first responders were called to a serious collision at about 11.24am on Monday between a bus and a motorcycle on Palmetto Road in Devonshire.
Police said a 73-year-old man was riding in a westward direction when his vehicle collided with the bus, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
Officers attempted life-saving efforts until EMTs arrived and took him to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
He later succumbed to his injuries. The bus driver did not report any injuries.
• Adam Tavares, 51, was involved in a crash on January 22 at the junction of Loyal Hill and North Shore Road in Devonshire
• Jahzavier Wilson, 19, collided with a water truck on Verdmont Road near the junction with St Mark’s Road in Smith’s on February 2
• Siena Frankson, 16, a pillion passenger, was thrown from a motorcycle after the rider lost control on Kindley Field Road, St George’s, near Stonecrusher Corner on February 14
• Wilton Woolridge Jr, 52, was involved in a crash at the roundabout near the junction of North Shore Road, Palmetto Road and Barkers Hill on January 31. He succumbed to his injuries on February 18
• An unnamed rider was involved in a collision with a taxi on April 25 on Somerset Road near its junction with West Side Road in Sandys
• Leroy Smith, 43, was involved in a crash on April 30
• The seventh and eighth fatalities have not yet been named
Later that day, just before midnight, police and other first responders arrived at Malabar Road in Sandys, where a collision between a livery cycle and a motorcycle took place.
Police said the 30-year-old motorcyclist was riding in an easterly direction when he was involved in a collision with the rental cycle carrying a man and a woman, believed to be visitors.
EMTs carried out life-saving measures on the motorcyclist before he was taken to hospital, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
The livery cycle passengers were also taken to hospital for treatment of their injuries and were later released.
The male visitor was arrested as a part of the inquiries.
Traffic was brought to a standstill for several hours as the scene was processed.
Anyone with information relevant to the deaths of Mr Smith or the 30-year-old who died from the Malabar Road crash was urged to call Bianca Glasford on 247-1175 or e-mail bglasford@bps.bm.
Anyone with information regarding the Palmetto Road incident was urged to call Ralshon Douglas on 717-0964 or e-mail rdouglas@bps.bm.
The Bermuda Road Safety Council offered its condolences to the families of the victims.
“These heartbreaking incidents, which have brought Bermuda’s road fatality total to eight for 2026, are a painful reminder of how fragile life can be and how devastating the consequences of road traffic collisions are for families and the wider community,” the council said in a statement.
“Every fatality leaves behind grieving loved ones and a community struggling to come to terms with another unnecessary loss. We urge all road users — motorists, motorcyclists, pedal cyclists and pedestrians alike — to exercise caution at all times, particularly when navigating bends, travelling at night, or sharing the road with others. Every life lost on our roads is one too many.”
The council urged anyone with information relating to the incidents to assist the police.
