Man seriously injured in motorcycle crash
Second motorcycle collision on County Road 507 near Catchacoma
ENNISMORE — A man was critically injured in a serious motorcycle collision just north of the James A. Gifford Causeway on Friday night.
The collision happed around 9:15 p.m. Friday near Robinson Road and Young Street in Selwyn Township.
Paramedics took a middle-aged man to Peterborough Regional Health Centre, where he was later airlifted to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto with critical injuries, arriving there at 11:32 p.m. Friday, according to an Ornge spokesperson.
A section of Robinson Road was closed at Yankee Line for about six hours while OPP technical traffic collision investigators reconstructed the scene of the crash, blocking access for people living in the Youngstown neighbourhood.
It was the second of two motorcycle collisions in Peterborough County on Friday as the busy Labour Day weekend began in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
A motorcycle crashed on County Road 507, north of Mississauga Dam Road, in Trent Lakes Township around 3:15 p.m. Friday, near Catchacoma.
Peterborough County OPP are investigating both collisions. No further details were immediately available from police.
Meanwhile OPP responded to two car rollovers along Highway 7 on Friday night, one near Stockdale Road south of Fowlers Corners and the other near the Dew Drop Inn in Lindsay.
Over the Labour Day weekend, OPP focused their attention on drivers who put public safety at risk by using their cellphones while driving.
Year-to-date across Ontario, inattentive drivers have been responsible for more than 5,600 collisions, with more than 1,000 of those resulting in injuries, with 31 people killed, according to the OPP.
The OPP will be patrolling the roads from the sky and the ground in a variety of police cruisers, some of which will be on display, according to a release from the OPP.
Police have always stressed the importance of motorcyclists wearing helmets at all times while driving.
The OPP offer the following tips for motorcyclists to help stay safe on the road:
• Watch for wildlife crossing signs. These signs are installed in locations where wildlife are known to frequently cross highways.
• Obey speed limits. The faster you are going, the longer it will take to stop.
• Make sure your headlights are clean. Use your high beams when it’s safe to do so.
• Make sure your tires and brakes are in good condition and are working properly.
• Don’t ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs or if you are tired or having problems with your vision.
• Watch for groups of wild animals. If a deer runs out in front of you, chances are there are more nearby. Slow down and keep an eye out for more animals crossing the highway.
• Stay the course. If you see a wild animal, brake firmly and calmly and stay in your lane. Swerving could make you lose control of your vehicle.
• Use extra caution when riding your motorcycle at dawn and dusk in areas where wildlife may be present.
• If you ride at night watch out for the reflections of animal eyes. Animal eyes will brightly reflect a motorcycle’s headlight, making them easier to spot.