One man is dead after crashing his ATV while riding in a rural area north of Logan Lake Friday afternoon.
The man was travelling with three others along a straight stretch of trail when he crashed.
RCMP Cpl. Kathleen Thain said none of the people he was riding with witnessed the crash, but police believe based on evidence such as crash markings that speed and unfamiliarity with the trail were factors.
Thain said the straight stretch had dips and valleys in it and the location of the crash is close to a steep downhill portion of the trail.
“What we think happened is he’s coming along at probably a pretty good rate of speed, sees this dip, brakes, which causes the nose of the ATV to come forward, and then go airborne,” Thain said.
She said the driver ended up with his leg partially pinned under the ATV, but that wasn’t the cause of death.
The BC Coroners Service is investigating the incident, and the Herald was unable to confirm the cause death before press time.
Thain said two of his companions were travelling ahead of him, and the other was behind him.
“The one behind started CPR right away, but he was deceased at the scene,” she said.
Authorities were called to the crash at about 4 p.m.
Efforts to assist the rider were unsuccessful and he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The rider was wearing a helmet and other safety equipment at the time of the crash.
She said this incident was one where the safety measures the driver took weren’t enough, noting the speed and unfamiliar terrain factors that played a role in his death.
Thain said people travelling on unfamiliar terrain must ride to their abilities and should slow down if they don’t know the area.
With the start of a busy off-road season and the May long weekend approaching, police are reminding the public to be safe and take care when out on the trials.
