SUNDRE — A motorcyclist was transported to hospital by ground ambulance with minor injuries after losing control and crashing immediately east of town yesterday.
Emergency services were called at about 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, with members of the Sundre Fire Department and an ambulance arriving at the intersection of Highway 27 and Rge. Rd. 51 shortly afterwards.
Firefighters at the scene said the motorcyclist was not seriously hurt, but nevertheless transported to hospital by ambulance as a precaution.
A witness who saw the crash stayed at the scene to offer police a statement.
“I thought I better stick around,” said Martin Vriends, a Calgary resident who owns a lot at the Riverside RV Village and was making his way into town when he saw the collision unfold behind his vehicle.
The motorcyclist had been heading north on Rge. Rd. 51, proceeding to turn westbound at the intersection with Highway 27, shortly after which the rider skidded out of control, said Vriends, who was looking in his side view mirror when he saw sparks flying behind him.
He said someone else had by then already called 911, but decided to remain until police arrived.
The Sundre RCMP detachment's commander, Sgt. Jody Achtymichuk, said the motorcyclist, a local male was "transported to hospital with minor injuries," adding an investigation was still ongoing and that "charges are pending."
The sergeant said speed, drugs or alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash.
Traffic was controlled for about an hour until the scene was cleared.