The police are still trying to establish the identity of one of two men who lost their lives in a motorcycle accident in Qormi in the early hours of yesterday.

The rider, Ralph Cassar, a 34-year-old from Msida, and his pillion passenger, a foreigner whose identity has not yet been established, were certified dead by a doctor on the spot.

They died on impact, the police said.

The accident occurred at 12.30 a.m. in Triq is-Sebh when the rider lost control of his machine and hit a lamppost, according to the police.

The rider and his passenger were on a Yamaha machine, heading towards Marsa from Rabat. Witnesses said their bodies ended up a considerable distance from the motorcycle.

The double fatality recalled another also involving a motorcycle when both rider and passenger lost their lives in summer 2000. The two were on their way to Gozo for the feast of Sta Marija when they were involved in a traffic accident in Cirkewwa.

Yesterday`s accident took the road toll this year to five.

Magistrate Noel Cuschieri is investigating and appointed a number of experts to assist him in the case.

The police have issued a photograph of the pillion rider in the hope of identifying him.