Charlo Spiteri, 25, of Zejtun, died early yesterday when the motorcycle he was driving was involved in an accident on the coast road near Salina. Eighteen-year-old Maruska Cesare, also of Zejtun, who was pillion rider, was initially also in danger of dying but her condition improved later yesterday.

The police said the accident, which happened at 1.30 a.m., also involved a Renault driven by a 26-year-old man from Sliema and a Subaru Impreza driven by a 28-year-old man from St Venera.

Mr Spiteri died moments after arriving in hospital.

An eyewitness, who spoke to The Sunday Times, complained about what he claimed was lack of efficiency by the hospital's emergency section. He said that despite calls by people on site that two people had been injured, initially only one ambulance was dispatched and there was no doctor on it. A second ambulance was sent later.

Asked for his reaction, hospital spokesman Tonio Bonello said that, as a rule, doctors were not sent on ambulances.

"If the ambulance nurse determines that a doctor is needed on site, he will request a doctor from the nearest health centre," he said.

He said there were three stand-by ambulances available during the night at the emergency department.

Meanwhile sources said that the Renault driver tried to cause trouble and shouted at both the people who stopped to help as well as the police.

The police said that the Renault driver was slightly injured while the Subaru driver escaped unscathed.

Duty Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera was informed of the accident and appointed court experts to help her in the inquiry. Investigations are being carried out by Naxxar district police.