INNISFAIL – Residents near a deadly crash scene east of town, along with the best friend of a deceased, were shocked and distraught eyewitnesses to the horrific aftermath last weekend.
A collision between a truck and a motorcycle at the corner of Highway 590 and Rge. Rd. 260, about 27 kilometres east of Innisfail, on May 5, claimed the life of a man and woman in their mid-30s from Red Deer.
RCMP said a preliminary investigation revealed a truck travelling eastbound on Highway 590 was attempting to turn northbound on Rge. Rd. 260 when the crash occurred with a westbound motorcycle. The 35-year-old male driver and 34-year-old female passenger of the motorcycle were pronounced deceased at the scene. The male driver of the truck was not injured, said RCMP.
Thora Ray, who lives near the intersection, had just returned from town when the accident happened.
“They (emergency responders) were on scene and they were doing CPR on the lady over here,” said Ray, pointing to the side of the highway. “They were working on her for quite a while. I think (the male occupant) was already deceased and she passed at the scene.
“They did everything they could for her,” she added. “The firefighters, (EMS) and police were amazing.”
RCMP Cpl. Ron Bumbry confirmed Sunday afternoon the man and woman were both from Red Deer. Next of kin had been notified.
Bumbry could not confirm the cause of the crash.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” said Bumbry, adding that weather and road conditions were not factors.
“Our collision analysts will analyze the data. It usually takes approximately a week or two to look at that type of data and then come to somewhat of a conclusion,” he added, noting other factors will also be included.
Ray said to the best of her knowledge the intersection has never been the scene of such a tragic accident.
“I remember seeing his blue jeans, I remember looking at his leather boots and I remember seeing the Harley Davidson tag (name) and that’s when I realized that was a motorcycle that hit that truck,” she said.
As Ray and her husband walked near the scene Sunday afternoon, they pointed out pieces of debris, including a bolt, a small piece of a tail light and a piece of chrome, believed to be from the motorcycle.
Also at the crash site Sunday, a young man drove up to the scene visibly distraught.
He wished to remain anonymous but identified himself as the deceased man’s best friend. He confirmed the man and woman were married and had two children.
The man said he "had to go for a drive" Sunday afternoon to visit the spot where his friends passed away. He took out two beers, opened them and placed them at the bottom of the highway sign as a memorial to his lost friends.
He viewed the crash site in silence for several minutes before driving away.
Police said they will not be releasing the names of the deceased and will continue their investigation.
