Motorcyclist Killed in Highway 40 Collision in Kananaskis

A 45-year-old Foothills County man is dead after a motorcycle collided with an SUV on Highway 40 in Kananaskis Country on Friday afternoon, sending two people to hospital.

RCMP said the collision occurred at about 4:15 p.m. on July 10 on Highway 40 near the Opal day-use area in Spray Valley Provincial Park (map here).

Police said the 45-year-old motorcyclist from Foothills County died at the scene. Two occupants of the SUV suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Emergency Health Services said paramedics responded shortly after 4 p.m. and determined the collision involved a motorcycle and a vehicle.

"On arrival, paramedics determined a collision between a vehicle and a motorcycle had occurred," said Stuart Brideaux, public education officer with Emergency Health Services.

Brideaux said the SUV was occupied by four adults. Two were assessed as being in "serious, but stable and non-life threatening condition" and were transported by ground ambulance to hospital.

"The other two adult occupants were found to be in stable and non-life threatening condition and declined further EHS care or transport to hospital," he said.

Brideaux said paramedics determined the lone occupant of the motorcycle was deceased at the scene.

"STARS had initially been dispatched to the incident but were stood down by ground EHS crews at scene," he said.

STARS spokesperson Blake Robert confirmed the air ambulance was dispatched but never reached the crash site.

"STARS was dispatched late on the afternoon of Friday, July 10, to a scene call emergency on Highway 40 in the Kananaskis area, but we were stood down prior to arrival and returned to base," Robert said.

Brideaux said paramedics later left the scene in the care of RCMP and Conservation Officers. RCMP continue to investigate the cause of the collision.