Image: CFJC Today / Mounties in West Kelowna have closed Highway 97 northbound Thursday morning after a crash involving a large truck and a motorcycle has resulted in one fatality. The crash is one of multiple fatal vehicle collisions connected to motorcycles in British Columbia this year. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

B.C. motorcyclist dies in crash

Yet another B.C. motorcyclist has died in a fatal crash: RCMP

Oct 3, 2024 | 10:55 AM

WEST KELOWNA — Mounties in West Kelowna have closed Highway 97 northbound Thursday morning after a crash involving a large truck and a motorcycle has resulted in one fatality.

According to a statement from Ryan Watters, communications advisor for the Kelowna Regional Detachment, Highway 97 northbound is closed due to a vehicle crash at Grizzly Road. Traffic is being re-routed onto alternate routes and RCMP are asking motorists to avoid the area if possible.

BC Emergency Health Services paramedics attended and have confirmed the driver of the motorcycle is deceased. The driver of the truck has remained on scene and is fully cooperating with authorities. Police say no criminality is suspected at this time and the investigation is ongoing. RCMP reconstructionist personnel have been called to attend. No other information will be released at this time as this is an unfolding incident.

The vehicle incident is one of multiple fatal crashes involving motorcycles this year in British Columbia.

In June 2024, a motorcyclist died in a crash in Delta, B.C., that snarled morning traffic for Metro Vancouver commuters. A statement from the RCMP says the rider drove into a car then fell onto the roadway and was critically injured by the rear wheels of a semi-truck.

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In late August, Mounties in Mission say a 44-year-old man from Maple Ridge was killed instantly after colliding with a dump truck on Lougheed Highway (Highway 7), while another motorcyclist died after attempting to pass another vehicle over the Labour Day weekend.

According to a statement from the Mission RCMP media relations unit, police say the first fatal collision happened Thursday, August 29 shortly before 2 p.m. The crash led to a complete closure of Lougheed Highway for several hours. Personnel from Mission RCMP’s Traffic Services unit, the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS), and the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement branch were dispatched to conduct the fatality investigation.

Image: Mission RCMP / Mounties in Mission say a 44-year-old man from Maple Ridge was killed instantly after colliding with this dump truck on Lougheed Highway (Highway 7) on August 29.

Police say evidence indicates that the motorcycle had been travelling eastbound along Lougheed Highway when it crossed over a double-solid line, entered the westbound lane, and struck a westbound dump truck. The truck instantly caught fire as a result of the collision, but the truck driver was remarkably able to escape without injury. Police say investigators did not find evidence of any fault by the truck driver, and no charges are expected to be filed.

The second serious incident involving a motorcycle happened over the Labour Day long weekend when first responders were called to the area of Dewdney Trunk Road, near King Avenue, on Saturday, August 31, at approximately 4 p.m., for a crash involving a blue Yamaha sport motorcycle and a Toyota Corolla. After police spoke with witnesses, examined the collision scene, and conducted a mechanical inspection of the motorcycle, police determined the motorcyclist had been traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Dewdney Trunk Road, before catching up to the Corolla, which was also traveling northbound. Police say the driver of the Corolla slowed and began making a left turn at the same time that the motorcyclist tried to pass it. The motorcycle hit the driver’s side of the car, launching the rider approximately 100 feet through the air. He was air lifted to hospital, but later died from his injuries. Police say the motorcycle rider was banned from driving at the time, and was also riding a motorcycle without insurance.

On September 17, Mounties in Langley say a 22-year-old Abbotsford motorcyclist collided head-on with a Dodge pickup and died. Just two days later on September 19, BC Highway Patrol says a fatal collision involving a 2012 Honda Civic and a 2001 Harley Davidson resulted in the death of the motorcycle rider.