The mother of Bermuda's first road fatality of the year pledged to start a college memorial fund in her son's name.

Mary Jane Fuhrtz Smith spoke out after her 15-year-old son died in a road traffic accident over the weekend.

Eric "Roach'' Fuhrtz died of massive injuries on Sunday after the bike he was travelling on went out of control and crashed into a road median in Southside Road, St. David's late on Saturday evening.

The crash also shattered an inseparable friendship. Best friend Sayih Shawki, who was riding on the same bike as Eric, survived the accident but is numbed by his best friend's death. The two young boys had known each other since nursery school.

Yesterday a tearful Ms Fuhrtz Smith, spoke with The Royal Gazette at length about her son, well-known for his boyish pranks and never-ending humour.

"Eric was a joker, he would make anything funny -- even his own death -- he was like that,'' Ms Smith said.

"But if you didn't look, Eric could be an angelic person one minute and the devil the next.

"You couldn't stay mad with Eric. You know you have to stand your guns or he would walk all over you.'' she added.

A friend of the mother's began crying during the interview and Ms Smith said: "You should stop crying. Don't cry, Eric doesn't want that.

"That's just like Eric -- he was a real joker.'' But Sayih and Eric's friendship is an incalculable loss, said Ms. Smith.

"The two boys make up one child because that's how close they are. They were brothers in every sense of the word.

"Sayih is as much a part of this family as Eric was. He calls me Mum and my parents Nana and Papa.'' Eric and Sayih met in Nursery School and were inseparable through St. David's Primary, Clearwater Middle School and eventually high school.

"Sayih's mother and myself decided to separate them when they went to high school to make them get other friends -- it made no difference.'' said Ms Smith.

The attempt failed, Eric and Sayih wound up on the phone for hours every night even though Eric went to Berkeley and Sayih went to CedarBridge.

Eric's mother believes that when the accident happened, Eric was trying to protect Sayih by cushioning the landing with his body. So far it is not certain which of the pair was riding the vehicle and who was the pillion passenger.

"I feel that my son knew he was going to die and was to protect his other half. We're responsible now because Sayih is hurting.

"For his comfort and stability and to bring him back to the Sayih we once knew -- that's what Eric would want. The two of them operate as one.'' she added.

A mother remembers Weekend nights, the two used to work at Flatt's gas station until 9 p.m., before catching a bus to the bowling alley at Southside.

Ms Smith says it's the only clean place children can hang out in St. David's.

"They generally bowl for an hour and are home by 11.15 p.m. Sayih lives across from the bowling alley.'' "I want all Bermuda to know that Eric was not given the bike. We thought Eric was up Sayih's house to stay the night.'' Eric's father, Michael Furhtz, said: "Eric was a real joker. He would make you laugh.

"We used to play cricket down on Texas Road. He used to fish, swim -- he was always in the water.'' Ms Smith said: "The water was as much a part of Eric -- he was true St.

David's islander, a real Mohawk.'' One of Eric's favourite St. David's Primary school teachers, Michael Bean, said Eric was a natural leader and had great potential.

"He was quite a character -- a kid with a lot of ability and a lot of presence,'' he said.

"There were days I had to get after him. He was laid back and we had to get him moving.

"Eric had a lot of promise. He was a leader and he had great potential.'' Ms Smith sent a message to Bermuda's parents: "Every mother needs to grab her child and tell them, every time she looks him, that she loves him because I didn't get to do that.'' She urged families to talk to the children about Bermuda's roads.

"Follow your heart and don't think it couldn't ever happen to you.'' Ms Smith said Eric's favourite song was Did Someone Call 911 by Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige, the opening lyric of which is: "If death come for me tonight, I want you to know I love you.

"... when I look into your eyes, you're worth that sacrifice.'' Ms Smith said the lyrics apply to her now, after Eric's death.

"A bullet's going through my heart, right through my soul.'' Tragic: Eric Fuhrtz Searching for clues: Police officers examine the site where teenager Eric Fuhrtz died.