A former bus driver who was killed in a traffic accident in Paola has become the sixth person to die in a crash involving motorcycles this year.

Edwin Lopez, was riding his Honda motorbike when it became involved in a collision with a Land Rover on Tuesday afternoon.

Friends have described the 48-year-old as “a real gentleman” and a “great driver”.

"This is such sad news. I knew him, a very kind person, always respectful and polite,” one friend wrote on Facebook.

Malta Public Transport also expressed its condolences with his family: “We are very sad to hear about the tragic death of Mr Edwin Lopez, a former employee, who was one of our bus drivers until July 2019.

"We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”

The 48-year-old Filipino national, who lived in St Paul’s Bay, was driving the motorbike on Triq l-Irvellijiet 1958 when he was involved in a crash with a Land Rover Discovery driven by a 37-year-old Maltese man from Paola. It happened at 4.15pm.

[attach id=898572 size="medium" align="left" type="image"]Photo: Facebook[/attach]

Police and emergency services were immediately called to the scene and the motorcyclist was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance. He died a short while later. 

The fatal crash was the second major collision involving a motorbike in Paola on Tuesday and follows a spate of fatal accidents involving motorbikes across the country.

In February a 46-year old motorcyclist from Mellieħa died after being involved in a collision with a car in Xemxija.

In April a 38-year-old man from San Gwann died when the motorbike he was driving was involved in a crash with a car on the Mrieħel bypass, Qormi.

In May there were three fatal accidents involving motorbikes. A 51-year-old motorcyclist died after apparently losing control of his Honda VT750 on the Coast Road on May 11.  

Three days later a 39-year-old motorcyclist from Birkirkara died after a traffic accident in St Julian's. Also that month a 32-year-old woman died from injuries sustained after the bike she was a passenger on was involved in a collision with a car in Żebbuġ.