A motorist involved in a traffic accident yesterday afternoon died on the spot and his passenger is in critical condition, police said.

The man, 19 from Msida, was driving a Ford Escort van in the direction of Mosta in Triq iz-Zebbiegh at around 1.20pm when he lost control of the van, which over-turned and crashed into a Kia Picanto coming from the opposite direction. The passenger is 27 and hails from Msida as well.

The man who was driving the Kia, a British man, 43, a female passenger from Ireland, 44, and the man's eight-year-old daughter were seriously injured.

Duty Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera has appointed various experts to assist in the inquiry.