Popular restaurant boss killed in motorbike smash

Roberto Alongi died when his bike collided with a car at Port Ann in Argyll

Sicilian-born Roberto Alongi, 44, was riding a 20,000 BMW motorcycle he had bought for his birthday when it collided with a Seat Toledo on the A83 Inverarary to Lochgilphead Road on Saturday afternoon. His 36-year-old passenger was seriously injured in the crash - which took place at around 4.20pm - and was taken to hospital in Glasgow, where her condition has been described as "serious".

Mr Alongi was pronounced dead at the scene, while no-one in the car was hurt. It is understood he and his passenger were part of a group of about nine bikers travelling along a popular motorcycle route near Port Ann in Argyll and Bute on Saturday afternoon.

The businessman had been the manager and chef at popular Musselburgh restaurant The Caprice for the last 20 years.

A keen biker, Mr Alongi had previously escaped death when a fellow rider slammed into him at 100mph on the Knockhill racetrack.

Last night, friends paid tribute to him on the social networking site Facebook. Rashella Pisani Kostic wrote: "Roberto you will be greatly missed and never forgotten. RIP dear friend."

Meanwhile, a police appeal has been launched after a 40-year-old pedestrian was hit by two cars on Seafield Road on Saturday. The casualty was struck by an eastbound Fiat Doblo and a Ford Focus at around 11.30am, suffering serious head injuries.

Officers want motorists who were on the road at the time of the collision to come forward and assist with their enquiries.

A police spokesman said: "We are still trying to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident and would be eager to speak to anyone in the area who may have witnessed the collision or seen the pedestrian immediately prior to the incident."

Mr Alongi was one of five people to die on Scotland's roads over the weekend. A second motorcyclist died in a separate crash on the A83 at Shiel Bridge, by the Kyle of Lochalsh, while two others were killed in a car crash on the A92 at St Cyrus.

Former Scottish rally champion Jimmy Girvan, 56, was killed in a crash at the Colin McRae Rally in Perthshire, while a 48-year-old man died during a private "banger derby" at Nigg, near Tain in the Highlands.