Alberta man dies in motorcycle accident near Fernie

Single motorcycle / trike motor vehicle collision 60 yr old Alberta male deceased.

On Sunday August 23, 2009 shortly after 3:00 P.M. MDT Elk Valley RCMP members responded to a motor vehicle incident west of Fernie on highway #3 near the entrance to the Fernie Alpine Resort.

Initial investigation indicates that a westbound three wheeled converted Honda Gold Wing left the highway off road right. The 60 year old driver from Alberta was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The man’s 60 year old wife was a passenger at the time of the collision and was transported to the Foothills Hospital in Calgary with serious injuries. A Collision Analyst from the East Kootenay Traffic Services Office attended and examined the scene. There were no clear factors to suggest what contributed to this incident. A mechanical inspection on the trike is pending. Weather and road conditions were not a factor in this collision. There was no closure of Highway #3 as a result of this motor vehicle incident.

“We would like to offer our condolences and sympathies to the family of the deceased. The BC Coroner’s Service and the East Kootenay Traffic Services are continuing their investigation surrounding the circumstances and causal factors of this collision and death”, stated Sgt Einor JORGENSON.

“The current condition of the passenger is unknown beyond the understanding that their injuries are serious. Police have spoken with next of kin and out of respect for the family the name of the driver and passenger are not being released at this time”, added Sgt Einor Jorgenson.

As this investigation is only in its early stages the police we are unable to provide any further information. The public is requested that anyone who was travelling on highway #3 on August 23rd and who may witnessed this incident and has not yet spoken with police, that they contact the Elk Valley Detachment at (250) 425-6233 or the East Kootenay Traffic Services Office in Cranbrook at (250) 420-4244.

Cranbrook
August 24, 2009
RCMP file # 2009-4232

August 26, 2009 update

Deceased is 60 year old Henry Meinema of Red Deer Alberta. 60 year old Valerie Meinema spouse of the deceased remains in critical but stable condition at the Calgary Foothills Hospital.