A 57-year-old cyclist has died following a crash near the Canso Causeway Saturday afternoon.
Nova Scotia RCMP say the collision happened between a cyclist and an 18-wheeler around 2:50 p.m.
The victim from Port Hawkesbury, N.S., died at the scene. His identity has not been released.
“Nobody likes to get called to these types of things,” said Aulds Cove Fire Chief Dan MacEachern. “It happens too often.”
The crash happened in front of a truck weigh-in station just before the Causeway entrance from the Auld's Cove side.
“It was a beautiful day (Saturday) and I can't speak to the circumstances to the collision occurring,” said Cpl. Jennifer Clarke of Nova Scotia RCMP. “I know our collision analyst is finishing gathering evidence at the scene and will provide evidence in due course.”
There were no other injuries.
Police say Highway 104 was closed between Auld’s Cove and the roundabout in Port Hastings on Cape Breton Island for approximately six hours.
The result was long lineups on both sides of the highway as people had to sit and wait for the road to be cleared.
“We understand it was very inconvenient for a lot of people. It's really important to gather the perishable evidence that would be at the collision scene in order for us to determine what took place and what caused that collision,” said Cpl. Clarke.
The Auld’s Cove Fire Hall was full with stranded motorists, as Carol MacEachern and her team of volunteers scrambled to offer people food and beverages.
“The traffic was crazy. There's no other word,” said MacEachern. “Everybody wants to move, so when they think it's time to move they're all trying to move at once. A lot left here at 9:30 and we didn't leave until closer to 10.
The tragic event has already impacted the small community.
“I don't personally know him or his family. But it's pretty tragic when you lose a life,” said MacEachern.
The cause of the crash is still being investigated.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore.
