Innisfail RCMP is still trying to determine the cause of a deadly crash involving two motorcyclists last week in a remote area west of town that claimed the life of a Rocky Mountain House man.
During the afternoon of March 29, Innisfail RCMP, along with emergency services crews and STARS air ambulance, responded to a report of a collision involving two motorcycles near the Red Deer County intersection of Rge. Rd. 40 and Twp. Rd. 350. The crash site is about 30 kilometres west of Innisfail.
Innisfail RCMP Sgt. Lori Eiler said the two male riders on Harley Davidson motorcycles were part of a group riding southbound on Rge. Rd. 40, with the pair out in front and riding side by side about a kilometre and a half ahead of the main pack.
She said the two riders failed to negotiate a sharp turn in the road and crashed in a roadside ditch.
“It was a very sharp curve on that road. It is a bit of a problem area from what I understand from the local residents. It is kind of a deceiving thing because it goes really straight for a long time on that road,” said Eiler. “You are going straight, straight, straight on a beautiful day, just riding along and then there is a small curve on the road, which isn't bad, and that last one is really sharp. If anybody would enter that thing at too high a speed you would certainly run into problems very quickly.”
Eiler said STARS air ambulance arrived at the scene but did not transfer the motorcyclists to hospital. The 42-year-old man from Rocky Mountain House was transferred to Innisfail by ground ambulance and he was pronounced deceased at the Innisfail Health Centre. His injured riding partner, a 45-year-old male who is also believed to be from Rocky Mountain House, was treated at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and released.
Eiler said RCMP at this time do not believe alcohol was a factor in the deadly crash. She said a Red Deer RCMP collision analyst is still investigating to determine the cause. No decision has been made yet on whether charges will be considered, said Eiler.
In the meantime, RCMP is aware that with the arrival of spring there will be an increased number of motorcycles out on the roads and highways and increased caution is advised for all motorists, said Eiler.
“Motorists should be aware because sometimes they (motorcycles) are not seen and motorcyclists need to be aware of what is going on, drive defensively, drive to the rules of the road and be mindful there is loose gravel,” said Eiler.
Innisfail RCMP Sgt. Lori Eiler
"You are going straight, straight, straight on a beautiful day, just riding along and then there is a small curve on the road, which isn't bad, and that last one is really sharp. If anybody would enter that thing at too high a speed you would certainly run into problems very quickly."
