A nine-year-old girl and her grandmother were critically injured as they crossed the road in Għadira, while a 23-year-old biker was battling for his life last night, on a public holiday marred with a string of accidents.

At about 5.15 p.m. a 62-year-old woman and her granddaughter, both from Ħamrun, were hit by a black Audi driven by a 27-year-old from Victoria as they were crossing the road along the popular sandy beach in Mellieħa, police said.

In a separate incident in Sta Luċija Avenue, Paola, at 4.45 p.m., a 23-year-old man from Birżebbuġa, driving a Honda motorcycle, was critically injured in a collision with a bus.

Earlier in the day, at 11.45 a.m., a 20-year-old man from Tarxien was seriously injured after jumping into the sea at the area known as Kalanka in Marsaxlokk.

An ambulance and personnel from the Civil Protection Department were dispatched to the spot and they brought the man ashore. He was taken to hospital where he was certified to have sustained serious spinal injuries.

In all three cases, duty Magistrate Gabriella Vella held an inquiry.