PARIS, Mar 12, 2003/ FWD/ --- Gauthier Gallet, one of fashion's most enterprising photographers, died Friday in Paris of traumatic head injuries caused by a scooter crash. He was 31.

Gallet, an extremely popular figure in the fashion industry, crashed when his scooter hit a recently installed traffic cone near his home in the 13th arrondissement early Wednesday morning. He was returning from a busy night covering the Karl Lagerfeld opening at Bon Marché as well as several parties, including a soiree at La Suite nightclub for the Paris magazine Numero, for whom he shot the monthly column, nuits a l'infini.

Despite several operations, Gallet remained in a coma until he passed away this morning in the Hopital la Pitie-Salpetriere, according to his agent. It's the same hospital where Princess Diana was taken following her car crash in 1997.

"He was one of the sweetest and most liked people around. He was gifted in what he did. His work was strong and because he was so polite and well-mannered he was able to photograph people in a good way," Karl Lagerfeld told FWD.

"Everyone adored Gauthier, and today everyone is in tears," Lagerfeld added.

At Numero, editor-in-chief Jonathan Wingfield said, "We are deeply saddened and terribly, terribly upset. He was such a lovable guy. We lost someone who summed up the essence of Numero. He was irreplaceable."

A highly accomplished photographer, Gallet was equally skilled at shooting portraiture, fashion and flatteringly candid shots of parties and events.

A shot of model Tamara by Gallet made recent covers of French Elle and subsequently the magazine's Russian edition. His spontaneous images of fashion folk and stars were a key component in the fall/winter 2002 "Stars and Style" issue of Self Service, just one magazine in a score of publications where his images were published.

"Gauthier was everywhere. He had a great eye and because he was so polite and such a gentleman he was able to shoot people in a special way. His body of work will stand up as an amazing document of the fashion industry. His great character shines through in his photos," Numero's Wingfield said.

Gallet is survived by his wife Benedicte and two daughters, one who is just three months old.