Barriere RCMP responded to a motor vehicle accident on Highway 5 about 10 kilometres south of Barriere at about 8 a.m. the morning of Saturday, May 24, 2014. Police report a motorcycle was southbound and attempted to pass a tractor trailer on the two lane highway, but the motorcycle collided with a northbound vehicle.
The motorcycle rider, Kurtis James Genier, aged 34, of Barriere was pronounced deceased at the scene. The occupants of the northbound vehicle were taken to hospital with unknown injuries.
As a result of the accident, the highway was closed in both directions while the Coroner’s Service investigated. The highway was reopened at approximately 2 p.m. in the afternoon.
RCMP Constable Michelle Hall commented that the motorcycle driver had a learners license. She noted that people with a motorcycle learner’s license are not allowed to drive unescorted, and are not allowed to exceed speeds of 60 km/hour.
Police are asking for the driver of the southbound tractor trailer to contact them. The tractor trailer was not struck by the motorcycle, and is only being sought as a witness to the accident.
The BC Coroners Service and RCMP Traffic Services continue to investigate this unfortunate death.