Motorcyclist dead after being hit by minivan along Deerfoot Trail near Calgary's south end
Police are looking at distracted driving as a possible factor in a crash early Friday that left a motorcyclist dead on Deerfoot Trail.
Calgary Police say the man was found dead just after midnight when crews arrived in the northbound lanes of Deerfoot Trail, just north of 212 Ave southeast.
According to Sgt. Colin Foster with the Calgary Police Service traffic unit, a 2012 Victory Jackpot motorcycle was stopped in the gore — a section of the highway painted in a chevron pattern that is not meant for driving. The rider was sitting stationary on the bike.
"It's like most of our crashes. Unfortunately it's usually a sequence of events, where sometimes it's the wrong place at the wrong time. That tends to be the majority of our collisions," he said.
Foster says a northbound Toyota Sienna minivan went through the gore that separates the exit lanes to 212 Avenue S.E., striking the motorcyclist.
The victim was a 50-year-old man.
The driver of the minivan, a 39-year-old man, was sent to hospital with minor injuries.
The passengers, a 39-year-old woman and four children ranging in age from one to 12 years old, were not injured but taken to hospital as a precaution. It's believed the occupants of the minivan are a family.
Northbound Deerfoot Trail was closed between Dunbow Road and 212 Avenue S.E. for several hours but reopened shortly before 6 a.m.
DEADLY SUMMER FOR MOTORCYCLE CRASHES
According to Calgary police, this is the second fatal motorcycle collision in 2021.
A 36-year-old father of three, Kreshnik Cermjani was killed while riding home from dinner, with his wife as a passenger. Cermanji’s wife remains in hospital and has undergone multiple surgeries.
The bike and SUV collided in the intersection of 14th Street N.W. and 20th Avenue N.W. just before 11 p.m. on June 29.
Police continue to investigate what led to the crash.
Emergency crews have responded to a number of other crashes involving motorcycles, but this year is not as deadly as last.
Police say during the first half of last year there were four deadly motorcycle collisions. A total of five riders lost their lives in 2020.
SHARE THE ROAD
Motorcycle enthusiasts say Friday’s crash is a tragedy and another reminder drivers need to share the road.
“It’s very important to know how to apply properly the rules of the road and how to be conscious of what is happening there because it’s not a game, it’s something that has to be taken seriously,” said Angela Fuentes, an instructor at Road Runner Driving School.
Fuentes says anyone who wants to ride should take the proper training and have the right education about safety.
“So you can avoid any collision and also to learn properly how to control the speed and balance,” said Fuentes.
She said all drivers, whether on motorcycles or in cars need to pay more attention to what’s happening around them.
“If you see a bike on the road … give them the space.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.