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
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
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.