Road deaths in Bermuda now average one a month for 2006 after a 52-year-old motorcyclist was killed when he was involved in a collision with a turning car on Middle Road, Warwick shortly before midday on Wednesday.

Police identified the 11th road victim of the year as David Santucci who is believed to have been travelling eastwards when he was catapulted from his bike after a collision with a car coming in the opposite direction which was turning into Longford Road next to the Belmont Golf Course.

Mr. Santucci was thrown onto the road and became pinned under another car. He was rescued and taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital but died from his injuries.

The victim is thought to be from Whale Bay, Southampton. A relative of Mr. Santucci last night said the family was too distressed to talk about the tragedy.

Police closed off a section of Middle Road for a number of hours yesterday as the accident scene was investigated, and for a time the Public Transportation Board diverted the Number 8 bus service along Khyber Pass, South Shore and Cobb’s Hill to avoid the road closure.

The collision occurred near to the spot where Michael Ratteray was killed on September 6 after he lost control of his motorbike close to the junction with Adams Lane.

Even with a month and a half of the year left this year’s road death total is now the second highest since 1998, only last year is higher when the Island had 13 traffic-related deaths.

Bermuda Police Service has extended its condolences to the dead man’s family and friends and are appealing for witnesses to yesterday’s accident, which happened at 11.55 a.m. at the junction of Middle Road and Longford Road, to contact P.c. Shameen Iqqbal on 295-0011.