A 24-year-old motorcyclist from Kalkara, Daniel Aquilina, died last night when his motorcycle crashed into a tree at Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli in St Julian's, the police said.
The incident happened at about 11.30 p.m.
The police said the Yamaha motorcycle crashed into a tree and the driver ended up on the centre strip, several metres away. Efforts to save him proved futile and he died shortly afterwards in hospital.
Friends of the victim said Daniel was a cheerful man, "always smiling, on-the-go and happy-go-lucky".
Magistrate Giovanni Grixti is holding an inquiry.