'Ghost bike' memorial to be installed where Kelowna, B.C., cyclist was killed by truck

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Mangled bike at crash scene - Kelowna News Castanet.net

ORIGINAL: 2:35 p.m.
Kelowna, British Columbia - Reports are coming in of a serious accident at the intersection of Dilworth Drive and Highway 97 in Kelowna.

Passing motorists say a cyclist has been struck by a transport truck.

The scene has been surrounded with police tape, and access to the highway has been blocked off of Dilworth. Traffic coming from the Springfield Road area to the south is being redirected through the Orchard Park Mall parking lot.

One witness says an ambulance left the scene with a police escort.

Castanet has a reporter headed to the scene.

More to come

UPDATE: 3:20 p.m.
Police and Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement officers have cordoned off the scene of a collision between a semi truck and cyclist on Highway 97.

Photos from Castanet's Miriam Halpenny at the scene show the mangled remains of a recumbent bicycle beside a traffic island at Dilworth Drive.

The transport truck involved is owned by Commercial Logistics Inc.

There is no word yet from police at the scene.

The cyclist's condition is unknown.

UPDATE: 3:35 p.m.
RCMP confirm they are investigating a serious collision involving a semi tractor trailer unit and a cyclist in Kelowna.

Kelowna RCMP's Municipal Traffic Section has closed a portion of Dilworth Drive to conduct their examination of the scene. Although traffic along Harvey Avenue may be impacted, all lanes of the highway remain open, police say.

“The cyclist has been rushed to hospital,” says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “The cyclist’s current condition is not known at this time.”

Any witnesses are asked to call the Kelowna RCMP Municipal Traffic Section at 250-762-3300.

UPDATE: 6:15 a.m.
DriveBC reports the scene at Dilworth Drive and Highway 97 in Kelowna was not expected to reopen until 6:30 a.m. this morning.

There has been no official word from police, but the length of the closure and investigation would imply the cyclist did not survive Monday's collision with semi truck.

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Cyclist succumbs to injuries - Kelowna News Castanet.net

A collision between a semi and a cyclist has claimed the life of a 69-year-old Kelowna man.

The crash occurred about 2:30 p.m. Monday at Dilworth Drive and Harvey Avenue.

RCMP Cpl. Meghan Foster says the man was rushed to hospital, but efforts to save him were not successful.

Foster says the driver of the semi has been co-operative with police. No charges have been laid.

Police are looking for surveillance video and other evidence in the area.

A portion of the highway was closed through the early morning hours Tuesday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.

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View attachment ernie-gabbs.jpg
Ernie Gabbs was riding a specially modified trike called a handy-cycle,
which is used by those who don't have use of their legs.
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'Ghost bike' memorial to be installed where Kelowna, B.C., cyclist was killed by truck CBC.ca
Cycling advocates say crash site at Dilworth Drive and Harvey Avenue is dangerous

Ernie Gabbs died after a collision with a semi-trailer truck on Monday at the intersection of Dilworth Drive and Harvey Avenue.

A group of cycling advocates will install a memorial at the site of a cyclist's death in Kelowna, B.C.

Kelowna resident Ernie Gabbs, 69, died after a collision with a semi-trailer truck on Monday at the intersection of Dilworth Drive and Harvey Avenue.

"This is a tragedy," said Landon Bradshaw, former president of the Kelowna Area Cycling Coalition.

Kelowna RCMP are asking anyone who may have seen the fatal crash to come forward with information. The driver of the truck has been cooperating with police.

On Sunday, the same day as Gabbs' funeral, Bradshaw and a group of fellow cyclists will install a "ghost bike" at the site of the accident. A ghost bike, or white cycle, is a bicycle roadside memorial placed where a cyclist has been killed or severely injured, usually by a motor vehicle.

This will be the fifth ghost bike to be installed in Kelowna. The bike memorializing Gabbs will include a wheel from the trike he was riding when he was struck.

"As drivers we're taught to look for other cars. But if you teach people to count cyclists, they will actually see cyclists. We need to be checking all of our directions," said Bradshaw.

He said Gabbs died at an intersection "known to be problematic for all road users."

Gabbs was riding a hand-cycle, a specially modified trike for those who don't have the use of their legs. It has two wheels in the back and one in the front. Bradshaw said Gabbs lost the use of his legs in a construction accident roughly 25 years ago.

Bradshaw said Gabbs used the money he received from an accident settlement to buy the trike.

"That was a 22-year-old trike he was using," ...

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