UPPER SALMON ROAD, N.B. -- New Brunswick RCMP are still investigating the circumstances surrounding a series of collisions that claimed the life of a 53-year-old man Friday night.
West District RCMP say the man, from Burton, struck two young moose while driving his motorcycle along Route 10 in Upper Salmon Creek around 10 p.m. on July 1. He was thrown from his motorcycle and landed in the southbound lane of the roadway, while his motorcycle came to rest in the northbound lane.
Shortly after, police say an RCMP officer in an unmarked police vehicle came upon the scene of the crash and struck the motorcycle driver, who was lying unresponsive on the road.
"He braked immediately but was unable to come to a complete stop," Cpl. Marc Fortin said in a news release. "According to the initial collision reconstructionist investigation, the underside of the vehicle made contact with the motorcycle driver."
RCMP say both the officer and a nearby resident administered first aid until the paramedics arrived.
While the investigation into the crash continues, some say there's been too many close-calls and collisions along the route, which runs between Chipman and Minto in central New Brunswick.
Business owner and Minto resident Pauline Johnson says she hears of close calls with deer and moose every other day, and believes it’s about time something was done to address the problem.
"I don't know where to begin," she said. “Now that the province has put our taxes up to 15 per cent, I think they've got enough money to build fences to keep the moose maybe on one side. You can put up signs that say be careful of moose, but the moose can't read that!"
This is the sixth motorcycle fatality since April in New Brunswick.
According to the province, the spot where the collision took place is considered a medium-risk area when it comes to moose collisions.
The RCMP are still investigating the circumstances that resulted in the death of the man with help from an accident reconstructionist.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown.
