Police closed a 17-kilometre stretch of eastbound Highway 403 between Brantford and Ancaster for about seven hours Friday while officers investigated two motorcycle collisions – one fatal.
It comes after Waterloo Regional Police warned of a sharp increase in motorcycle crashes involving serious injuries
OPP Cst. Conrad Vitalis said the first crash, a single-vehicle collision, happened around 4 a.m. on eastbound Hwy 403 near Jerseyville Road.
Vitalis said the motorcycle crashed into the highway median. The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Around 7:30 a.m., about 10 miles away, a second collision occurred at eastbound Hwy 403 and Wayne Gretzky Parkway in Brantford.
Vitalis said it involved a motorcycle and two other vehicles.
The motorcycle rider was taken to a hospital but died from his injuries, Vitalis said. No one else was injured in the collision.
Late Friday afternoon, police identified the deceased as 40-year-old Kyle Jason Doe of Brant County.
A motorcycle at the scene of a crash on Hwy 403 in Brantford on July 15, 2022. (Jeff Pickel/CTV Kitchener)
According to police, additional officers were en route to assist with the first crash when they encountered the second collision.
“As far as I understand, we haven’t even gotten the service call yet, that’s how quickly after the collision they were here,” Vitalis said. “Immediately there were several officers on the scene.”
Eastbound Interstate 403 reopened shortly before noon after being closed for about seven hours.
The causes of both accidents are still being investigated. It is not yet known if charges will be filed.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has CCTV footage to contact them.
ON INJURY ENHANCEMENT
In Waterloo Region, police are concerned about an increase in serious motorcycle crashes.
Police say the number of motorcycle crashes is comparable to other years, but they are seeing an increase in the severity of injuries in those crashes.
In Waterloo Region, there were 31 collisions involving motorcycles in 2022 – half of which occurred since June 1.
“Of these 15 [since June 1], approximately 3 of these resulted in very serious injuries. So much so that our traffic services unit is investigating them,” said Waterloo Regional Police Sgt. Scott Griffiths.
Police say there are a number of reasons why this happens, but speed is a common factor.
“I think the injuries are a result of the speed as a result of the volume of traffic that we have. And in some ways it’s just a matter of mechanism of injury,” Griffiths said. “When you hit someone at high speed or you hit someone going through an intersection at high speed, the mechanism of injury just happens to be higher.”
Police in Waterloo Region and Brant County are asking everyone on the road to be safe.
“Whether they’re riders or drivers, just be aware of your surroundings,” Vitalis said.
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