A 44-year-old motorcyclist from Nadur died on Thursday evening following a traffic accident in Gozo, the police said.

The accident took place in Triq Borg Gharib in Ghajnsielem at around 6.45pm.

It involved a VW Polo driven by a 41-year-old man of Qala and a SuperSoc bike which the victim was riding.

The biker was given first assistance but died soon afterwards.

He has been named as Joe Cutajar, a former soldier.

Magistrate Monica Vella is leading an inquiry.

It is the first road fatality of the year.