Rain squalls cited in Steady Brook motorcycle double fatality
The RCMP now say weather conditions may have contributed to Monday night's fatal motorcycle accident on Newfoundland's west coast that killed two people from outside the province.
While a cause has not yet been determined, police said in a statement that "periodic rain squalls" were occurring near Corner Brook during the time of the accident.
The middle-aged couple was traveling westbound on the Trans-Canada Highway at the time. Both people were thrown from the motorcycle after striking the rail.
They both died as a result of their injuries. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Police said the driver lost control just after 6 p.m. and struck a guardrail near Marble Mountain in Steady Brook.
Witnesses said short periods of heavy rain were followed by beautiful weather conditions in spots along the TCH.
"Drivers would experience brief heavy rain and seconds later be in sunshine," Tuesday's statement read.
No names have been released, but police said the next of kin have been notified. The RCMP confirmed that both victims are not from Newfoundland and Labrador.
Police say they were on their way to the Marine Atlantic ferry in Port aux Basques after a visit to the province.
Traffic was at a standstill for several hours as police closed all four lanes of traffic in both directions so that crews could clear the scene and investigators could gather information.
Marine Atlantic delayed departure of its ferry from Port aux Basques until 1:30 a.m. so passengers caught in the traffic wouldn't miss their crossing.
Police say excessive speed may have been a factor
During an interview with CBC's Corner Brook Morning Show, RCMP Staff Sgt. Boyd Merrill said a preliminary investigation shows that speed may have played a part in the fatal crash.
"The investigation has told us that the motorcycle was in a passing position, and during the passing of a couple of vehicles the accelerated speed could have caused the motorcycle to lose control," he said.
"That is a decreased speed area from normal Trans-Canada speed so you have to use caution, especially in the twists and turns of the Marble Mountain area."
With regards to the long closure of both directions of the TCH, Merrill said in some cases it is simply unavoidable.
"We had very few complaints, but it's certainly not fun to be stuck in traffic for several hours," he said.
"That's the way it is with certain crashes. It requires both lanes of traffic to be closed."
In Tuesday's statement, police said investigators are working to determine if it was raining at the time of the collision or if there was standing water on the road.
Witness questions why passing traffic didn't slow down
Donnie O'Keefe, one of the first witnesses to the horrific crash scene on Monday, said he was on his way from work in Corner Brook to his home in Steady Brook when he came upon one of the victims in the middle of the road in the opposite lane.
"I pulled over, jumped the divider and soon discovered something that not too many people want to see," he told the St. John's Morning Show.
"There was one gentleman deceased in the road. The other lady was over the guardrail, I didn't even realize she was there. I couldn't even see the bike it was that far up the road."
O'Keefe said even after he and other people pulled over and began signaling to passing traffic to slow down, many drivers continued to speed by the scene.
"I want to ask people to be more aware, these people were putting their lives at risk," he said.
"People were coming upon the scene very quickly."
O'Keefe said a physician arrived at the scene shortly after he did and tried to revive the victims.
"A doctor soon arrived, driving by such as myself, [and] he tried to perform CPR on the lady and the emergency responders showed up later," he said.
"It was not a good evening for sure."
